Father with terminal cancer pieces together final life lesson to help daughter 'process' her grief

A Shanghai father with terminal pancreatic cancer knew he had only a few months to live, so he decided to spend his final days comforting his daughter with one final life lesson. Dong Sanbai, his daughter, had originally shared the video in October 2025, and it has since gone viral, getting picked up by several media outlets across the world.

Standing in her room, Sanbai's dad said, "I hope that when the time comes, you won't be too sad." He implores his daughter to understand how natural death is, and that he, too, has to experience it someday. "Just think of it as me going on a trip. I will come back," he assured. Sanbai's dad said that as long as she kept him in her heart, he would return to her. Although it's natural to be anxious about death, it's also inevitable, and there is absolutely no need to fight against it — he preached. "We spent so much time together when you were little, but don't overthink it, just live each day happily." Born into poverty, Sanbai's father had to work around the clock to earn a dignified life — but fate had other plans. After suffering from diarrhea for weeks, he went to the hospital when the doctor diagnosed him with pancreatic cancer. Upon receiving the news, his only daughter, Sanbai, quit her job to care for him alongside her mother, according to South China Morning Post's report on October 24. 

Despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the doctors saw no improvements and thus decided to stop the treatment. In fact, they had informed him that he had less than six months to live. "My dad said that although 67 feels a little short, he has already done what he wanted to, and visited the places he wanted to see. He told me to dress beautifully every day, to laugh out loud every day, and to live each day fully," Sanbai said. She confessed that although she had learnt to accept the bitter truth, she hoped for a miracle that would let her father stay a little longer.

Meanwhile, his dad spent his final years talking to her about what she may face in the future, so it didn't come as a shock. "He was preparing me again and again," his daughter said. People loved how the man consoled his daughter and motivated her amidst the uncertainty. For instance, @soundslikem commented, "As a daughter who lost her father to pancreatic cancer and a drawn-out death, this was both heartbreaking but also healing. Thank you for sharing, and love to your family." @kash1wagi.el wrote, "Grief will always find a way to come back to your life and daily routine. We grow around the grief as time passes."

@w1lly4 wrote, "He's enlightened… Now he's preparing his daughter to be ready for the upcoming inevitable things. Love exists and stays; the warmth of your parent endures through any season, and knowing that your dad will still be with you and stay as beautiful memories endure." @memelicat said, "This just hit me really hard. A few days ago, I thought about my dad and mom getting older, and I haven’t found enough time to be with them and spend time with them as when I was a kid… But never missing a call with them calms my heart. I hope this woman enjoys and spends the best time with her dad from the beginning to the end." @robertsmith2166 wrote, "Yes, it’s painful and sad. But your dad was a good man who had a good life. He raised you well and loved you. Remember all the beautiful memories you shared, and love him always. God will not let him suffer anymore."

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