Man Dying of Cancer Tells Infant Daughter: God Will Be Your Dad Now (VIDEO)
A 27-year-old Washington man who recently passed away from a rare appendix cancer has left a heartwarming viral video to his 11-month-old daughter where he tells her that his Christian faith has enabled him to be unafraid of death and that he knows God will continue to watch over his young daughter as she grows.
"I'm not scared of death. You can say, being a Christian, that you're not scared of death because you know you're going to a better place. But it's human nature to want to be scared," Nick Magnotti of Bellevue, Wash., said. "I know why I don't feel scared. I know it's because God has given me this peace and this blessing."
The young father also focused his message on his daughter, saying that although he knows he will soon be going to a better place, he also realizes God will continue to watch over Austyn. "Just talking to God about how I know that even if I'm not here, that He's her father, that He's going to take care of her, He's going to protect her, He's going to watch out for her, He's going to provide for her."
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Magnotti passed away on Jan. 7 after battling a rare form of cancer, mucinous adenocarcinoma, that first affected his appendix with a tumor and then spread to the rest of his abdominal area. After battling the cancer for over two years, Magnotti and his wife, Alyssa, agreed to stop pursuing draining chemotherapy treatment and allow the 27-year-old to spend as much time with his family as possible before the cancer fully overtook his body.
In November, Magnotti recorded a heartfelt video, uploaded to his family's blog, that served mainly as a dedication to his Christian faith and his daughter Austyn, who was born in March 2013.
In the video, Magnotti expresses the gratefulness he feels for getting to know God. "The relationship that I've developed. The amount that I've gotten to know God. I just wish that everyone could experience what I feel. I just feel so blessed."
"I just feel lucky that even in experiencing this pain that I'm getting opportunity to change lives, in the Lord's name, I'm getting the opportunity to help people."
Magnotti went on to say that despite the immense tribulations he's had to overcome due to his medical situation, he does not fear death because he knows he has God's "peace and blessing."
Magnotti's viral video has touched the hearts of many on social media, who have described the father as "courageous," "blessed" and "incredible." During his cancer fight, Magnotti received inspirational words from many, including his favorite NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, who recorded a video for Magnotti's birthday a few months back. Team members Golden Tate, Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman all told Magnotti they were thinking of him and praying for him during this time of struggle for his family.
Following Magnotti's death, Alyssa reportedly received two tickets to the Super Bowl that were donated to her church by an anonymous donor and given to her in honor of her late husband. The Seattle Seahawks will be taking on the Denver Broncos at the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, and Alyssa is reportedly bringing a close friend to accompany her to the game.
"I wish I could have seen [Nick] jump and shout when he found out I was going to the Super Bowl," Alyssa wrote on her family blog.
