“I want everyone to know you don’t have to find out you’re dying to start living.”
Zach Sobiech

So who is Zach Sobiech?

Watch the 22 minute video here:
My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech

If you don’t have the time to watch it, you can read about his story here:

Zach Sobiech, 17, Inspires Millions in Cancer Fight With Farewell Song
By JANINE RAYFORD

After doctors told cancer patient Zach Sobiech, 17, he only had a year to live, the Minnesota high school senior turned to music – and inspired millions.  His emotional farewell song, “Clouds” was posted on YouTube Dec. 5 and went viral with over two million views and climbing, and has created interest from music industry insiders.

Clouds by Zach Sobiech

Back in 2009, then-14-year-old Zach, the third of four children, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a kind of bone cancer.  “It was the summer before he started ninth grade,” says his mom Laura. “He went for a run and when he got back he said his hip hurt.” What doctors initially thought was a simple muscle issue was later found to be an aggressive form of cancer. “In just three months the tumor grew to the size of a plum,” says Laura.

Despite countless surgeries and rounds of radiation, the cancer continued to spread. Last May, doctors gave a grim prognosis: Zach had up to a year to live. “We’re approaching that year mark,” says Zach, whose high school class graduates in June. “It’s scary to think about, but the key is to not feel bad for yourself.”

It’s that reflective, positive spirit that moved him to write the song “Clouds.” With lyrics like, “If I only had more time,” and “We’ll go up, but I’ll fly a little higher”, Zach, who has played guitar since he was 12, says, ‘[‘Clouds”]’ was for me and for my family. I needed to get that emotion out and they wanted something they could remember me by.”

“I just sat down and cried,” says Laura, who discovered Zach’s song lyrics on a piece of paper while cleaning up. “I had no idea he had that in him.” After hearing the song, their local KS95 radio station offered to produce the video and the rest is Internet history.

Zach is using his remaining time and newfound fame to raise awareness and money for kids suffering from his rare form of cancer, teaming with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund to launch the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund. He’s already raised almost $80,000 to help fund research into a cure.

“My [type of] cancer hardly gets any funding,” says Zach. “Our goal is to give other kids with osteosarcoma a chance.”

Though Zach has gotten multiple music offers as well as recent invitation from America’s Got Talent, Laura says, “It can’t just be about Zach. It has to be about raising money and awareness to kill this disease. Our mission is to get the word out and show how to live with death looming.”  Though Zach has good days and bad, his mother says he’s doing his best to live each day to its fullest.

“There are days when he’s got to be in bed and feels miserable,” says Laura, “But he doesn’t let that part of his life ruin the rest.  We really feel like there’s meaning behind suffering.”  Adds Zach, “We don’t know what the future holds, but we don’t have to worry about that yet.”

And apparently on 20th May 2013, Zach Sobiech has passed away peacefully..

Teen featured in viral video dies

(CNN) — Zach Sobiech, 18, passed away Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends.

In the past few weeks, donations to Zach’s cause — the Children’s Cancer Research Fund — skyrocketed, as did downloads of his song, “Clouds,” which at the time of his death had more than 2.9 million page views on YouTube.

Recently dozens of celebrities posted a response — joining forces to lip sync to Zach’s voice singing “Clouds.”

My Last Days: Zach Sobiech “Clouds” Celebrity Music Video

“And we’ll go up, up, up, but I’ll climb a little higher,” sang Jason Mraz, Anna Faris and Rainn Wilson.
“Go up in the clouds because the view’s a little nicer up here, my dear,” sang Bryan Cranston and Rachel Bilson, Ashley Tisdale and Colbie Caillat.
“It won’t be long now,” sang the Lumineers.
“If only,” sang Sarah Silverman, “I had a little bit more time.”

It was a hello to Zach, and a farewell. It was a collective expression of love and gratitude.

The motley crew of celebrities on the video was assembled by Wilson, an actor, and director/actor Justin Baldoni, who directed a short documentary about Zach for his compelling online reality series, “My Last Days,” which runs on Wilson’s SoulPancake YouTube channel.

In his final days, Zach slept a lot. Once in awhile he was able to muster up enough energy to bring out his guitar and play. “It’s those times when we remember how it used to be,” said his mom.

She told me about a trip the family took last year, “a sort of pilgrimage to Europe,” with 10 intense days of sightseeing. “We packed a lot into those 10 days,” she recalled, “and maybe these past 3½ years have been like that pilgrimage. I haven’t had the chance to let it sink in. I don’t let myself go to that place of grief. There will be plenty of time to think about what we have lost later.”

And maybe, she said, that is the lesson here: that no matter where you are in life, look at what you have and be grateful. It’s the kind of thing you hear all the time, but putting it into action takes some work.

“That’s what Zach’s always been really good at: recognizing what is good and being grateful for it,” Laura said. “He taught all of us how it’s done.”

Read the full story:CNN.COM

Honestly, I don’t know about you, but I sobbed the whole time I watched Zach’s video. It was beautiful, inspiring and he was such an amazing guy. The world has indeed lost a beautiful soul.

RIP Zach, you’ll be missed by the world.

But you’ll never be forgotten:

Listen to: Clouds by Zach Sobiech
Donate to: Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund

*With Zach’s blessing, the Sobiech family requests that all memorials be directed to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund in lieu of flowers to help carry on Zach’s mission to help kids with cancer.

Till later,
♥ mitsueki