PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (WJW) “I am Alexa Elizabeth Bekkerus, AKA ‘Alex,’ and this is my story.”

So begins the self-written obituary of a Minnesota woman who died of breast cancer at age 27 earlier this month. Since her death and subsequent funeral, Bekkerus’ words have been shared on social media by friends, family and many who did not know her.

The obituary covers Bekkerus’ happy childhood growing up with her brother on her family’s farm, time at Concordia College and pharmacy school only to learn of her cancer diagnosis in 2020.

“At 22 years of age I was given a death sentence,” she wrote. “The beginning of my grown-up life, yet the start of the end of my life. Up until this I had hardly ever been sick a day in my life. Now all of a sudden my life was on a ticking clock.”

Bekkerus said she made peace with the fact her life would be cut short. She spent the next years going on fun trips to the beach and mountains and to see historical monuments. She spent time with family and her horses and dog. She credited her doctors at the Mayo Clinic for helping her to stay healthy for so long.

“In December, my oncologist told me the chemo was no longer working and that I was going to die in less than six months,” Bekkerus said in the obituary. “The cancer had moved to my lungs. Not a surprise, as I felt something was happening.”

Bekkerus, who said she felt God had blessed her life, did not die alone.

“My momma promised me she would be with me to the very end and she was as she held me in her arms until I took my final breath,” she said. “And now I’m in the arms of Jesus free of pain and able to breathe again.”

Bekkerus said that death comes for us all and shared the main thing she learned through the years of being sick: “Life is made up of moments, don’t miss them because you will never get them back again. Treasure every day.”

She signed the communication, “Love, Alex.”