Dying 22-year-old took on $6,500 of credit card debt she knew she'd never repay. The money wasn't for her
Even though she wanted to travel, her body was too weak, so she settled on going bigger by doing 'some good stuff'
Facing a terminal diagnosis can change a person's perspective on what matters the most. A 22-year-old terminal cancer patient, who was diagnosed with bone cancer two years ago, made the best use of her limited time, and shared it all in a Reddit post under u/UnderstandingThis430. When her treatments stopped working, doctors gave her a few weeks, or months, if she was lucky. Instead of moping around, she got several credit cards from the bank and maxed them out, making the best use of that money. The post was shared on April 9, 2025, and it received 98,000 upvotes and 8,300 comments.
Taking debt to the grave
Before getting diagnosed with bone cancer, the author was mindful of her savings and credit card scores. However, when she was given limited time to live, she took on several credit cards and thought, "The debt will die with me, and I give no f*cks." She mentioned the first one had a $6,500 limit with "0 APR for 20 months." Even though she wanted to travel, her body was too weak, so she settled on going bigger by doing "some good stuff." She shared that she had bought jewelry for her family made with her handwriting.
She bought a £360 ($481.96) crab at a fancy seafood place, and called the experience "awesome." She got three jellycats, comfortable trousers, and a hand-knitted blanket for her niece. She took her brothers to the arcade, and her entire family to her favorite place in Weymouth. She went to a candy store and bought a quart of everything, and a minted lamb pasty. However, the best part about the author's story was that she was not selfish. She used the money to donate to animal shelters, food banks, and cancer charities that had helped her during the difficult time. She donated £1000 ($1338.79) worth of food to her local food bank, according to an update.
'I’m bedbound and mostly just watching lots of TV'
During her third update, she shared that her health was declining, "lost a lot of functionality in my body at this point, so I’m bedbound and mostly just watching lots of TV and seeing family." She is grateful that people checked in on her, and concluded her post saying that in the end, nothing matters except friends and family. Since the third update, the author did not post anything in a year. However, an update was shared in the comments in January 2026 from the author's alleged twin sister. She revealed that her sister passed away in July last year, and was surrounded by loved ones and pets, as well as multiple credit cards. She also mentioned that the debt was wiped out and cleared.
End-of-life wishes
The author's final update, which emphasized the importance of friends and family, echoed a sentiment commonly expressed by people nearing the end of life. A study published in the National Library of Medicine revealed that being with family was among the most common "end-of-life" wishes (57%). Some wished for peace with God (74%) and to pray (62%). Some wanted to keep their sense of humor (41%), and the last on the list was to help others (36%). The author not only had her family and friends beside her, but she also helped several people with the credit cards she got from the bank.
'I'd look the other way if a patient told me this'
Everyone in the comments supported the author's decision to go all out with the credit cards. u/Commercial_Music_931 asked, "Can someone offer this person some legit strategy on how to maximize this? Surely there's more she can do. Multiple cards for sure though." u/Tasty-Willingness839 commented, "I'm a palliative care nurse, and I'd absolutely look the other way if a patient told me this. Buy whatever the f*ck you want for your friends and family too."
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