❤️📝Live Like You're Dying...

One of the biggest items on Patrick Mitchell's bucket list was always to live to 100. 

Devastated when he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer last year at only seventy-two, he knew that dream may not come true. 

• It never crossed Patrick's mind to give up, however. He still had time left- and he had dreams to chase 💫.

Constructing the Bucket List... Patrick's daughter Vanessa got to work making an list of adventures to have together while they still could.

• She took the entire month of December off work and posted on Facebook asking for suggestions of exciting things to do near their hometown of Coronado, California. What happened next blew the duo away. 

Suggestions came pouring in from people all around the country; she was most surprised at of the commenters offering their services completely free of charge.  

“It blew our minds,” Vanessa said about the initial response. “I was just scrolling and scrolling. I was so overwhelmed by people’s generosity.”

Stop Number One... Vanessa and Patrick's first stop was a private tour of a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron.

• Julie Wright saw Vanessa's post and immediately got her Navy husband Justin in on the generosity. He was able to give Patrick an up-close tour of the helicopter hangar, plus a showing of the expansive fleet of aircraft stationed there.

Patrick, who always had an affinity for the Navy, was over the moon.

The Fun Didn't Stop There... With hundreds of comments on her post, Vanessa planned the most exciting and fulfilling month she possibly could for her sick father. 

• The duo had a private violin concert in the backyard, had a professional photoshoot together, and even made a trip to Las Vegas to stay in the Paris Hotel- modeled after the famous city Patrick had always dreamed of visiting. 

More than the experiences themselves, Vanessa and Patrick were overwhelmed by the support and friendships to come out of the entire experience. 

• "It [the community] has been a light in all of this," shared Vanessa after their month of adventures was complete. 

Leave Your Legacy... Patrick passed peacefully in his home earlier this month following an incredible few weeks chasing his bucket list dreams. 

• When asked about the bucket list experience, he shared the kindness and generosity of strangers showed him "the spirit of humanity."