Wife discovers letters after husband loses battle with Marfan Syndrome

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) - A man's final gift to his family was expressed in more than 30 letters.

Mitchell Whisenhunt lost

on Saturday, but it's what he left behind that came as surprise to his family.

"If this is being read, I have passed," one letter begins.

Shortly after his passing, Mitchell's wife, Ashley Whisenhunt, discovered the letters her husband wrote, along with notebooks of poetry. The letters are addressed to members of the family, the community, and dozens to his 1-year-old daughter.  

The letter continues:

"In this grieving period for my wife, the last thing I want her to worry about is the coming cost of my funeral."

Ashley Whisenhunt said it's surreal reading some of the letters now that her husband is gone. "Honestly I thought he was going to come back in and read them to me I guess," Whisenhunt said.

Whisenhunt said the letters are made for special moments in her life like an upcoming anniversary. She said the letters Mitchell wrote to their daughter are the most special.

"Her 2nd, 3rd, 4th birthday, and on the 16th he wrote "Sweet 16" on the front, all the way up to her 18th birthday," Whisenhunt said.

Whisenhunt said she is going to respect Mitchell's wishes and let her daughter open the letters for each occasion. She said the letters are a true reflection of her husband's character, and how he was always thinking about others. "I know he was thinking about us," Whisenhunt said

Whisenhunt said the family is selling bracelets and t-shirts to raise money, but have not planned a larger drive just yet. She added that the family will maintain Mitchell's GoFundMe page, putting funds toward final expenses.

Whisenhunt added that the family is trying to organize a memorial service for Mitchell Whisenhunt later this week in Longview.

Copyright 2014 KLTV. All rights reserved.