7-Year-Old With Fatal Disease Pens Heartbreaking Goodbye Letter To His Friends

After living with a terminal illness for three years, 7-year-old Marshall Clark died last week in his mother's arms.

But he didn't leave without saying a final goodbye to his friends. The child sent a farewell by way of a letter written by his grandmother, Elsie Clark.

The letter reads,

This will be my last message on here because by the time you read this I will be in Heaven. It's okay because nana has told me all about it and about all the wonderful things I will be able to do when I am there.

The North Devon Journal reports Clark suffered from late infantile Batten disease, which causes cellular disorder within the body.

Clark was diagnosed with the disease in September 2013. But his condition appears to have worsened in the past 10 months. The North Devon Journal reports he was left bedridden during that time period.

But according to the letter, Clark kept smiling through it all:

I was worried that I would miss the people I love so much and that would make me sad but nana told me that the love people have for me is so strong it will be like they are there with me. Nana says I have been the bravest boy ever. When Batten disease stopped me from being able to use my iPad or feed myself or play games I still kept smiling.

Grandmother Elsie Clark told the North Devon Journal that Marshall had been through an "evil journey" with the disease, which can leave kids blind and unable to walk.

But with the letter she wrote on behalf of her grandson, she emphasized the silver lining of his passing away: He's "free."

You have been with me and supported me and loved me and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. But now I have to say goodbye. Be happy for me that I am no longer trapped in a body that stopped me from enjoying my childhood. I am now free to do all the things I have missed so very much.

Marshall was set to turn 8 years old on November 8. The North Devon Journal now reports he will be buried on that day.

Citations: DailyMail.com, North Devon Journal