A terminally ill tech executive’s final goodbye message has gone viral on social media after he shared he was entering hospice.
US-based James Butts, who worked at American logistics giant Postmates, urged his followers to ‘be kind’ and ‘be a decent human’ in a post on X that has earned nearly 13 million views (and counting) since it was shared on November 13.
James shared that he was beginning end-of-life treatment after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, as his heart-wrenching message struck a chord with thousands of X users.
He wrote: ‘I’m entering hospice today. Will probably update very little if at all.
‘But I wanted to say be kind, be brave, be principled, be an idealist.
‘Most importantly, be a decent human.’
The post received nearly 200,000 likes and 8,000 comments from people around the world in less than 24 hours.
He ended his touching message by saying: ‘I love that we existed together, in this moment of time.’
The simplicity of his powerful reflection appeared to resonate with hundreds of thousands of strangers who felt compelled to thank him for sharing his journey and wishing him a ‘peaceful transition’.
One message on X read: ‘I don’t know you but I am moved by your message. Sending you and your loved ones strength.’
Another person wrote: ‘We don’t know each other but your post popped up on my feed for a reason. I hope I can make even a little bit of difference in your day by sending this message. Wishing you great strength and healing.’
A third X user added: ‘Even though it’s been all of two seconds that I’ve known you, I love that we existed together too. Sending you strength, prayers, and much love.’
Another person praised James for his ‘remarkably brave’ decision to share his cancer journey with the world, adding: ‘If I were in your neighbourhood, I’d bring you soup, or bourbon, or whatever you’d want.’
One X user said James’ message ‘hits harder knowing your situation’, referring to his cancer diagnosis.
Another suggested that his ‘reflection on one another’s fate is an important understanding of human nature’ while a third added: ‘What a reminder to treat each day as a gift and not take anything for granted.’
Others vowed to ‘live up to those standards’ that James outlined in his ‘message of goodness’.
‘You’re one of the first people I’ll go looking for when I get there,’ one person told James. ‘My prayers are for a comforting and meaningful time in this process.
‘A lot of good things can happen during it.’
Some of James’ former Postmates colleagues also took the opportunity to send him a message, with one person writing: ‘You’ve handled this horrible disease with tremendous bravery and dignity.’
Still others shared their contact details ‘if you ever want someone to talk to’ while posting book recommendations and ‘end-of-life planning’ resources to aid his journey.
‘It’s been an honour, James,’ one simple, yet poignant, message was addressed to the cancer survivor.
According to James’ LinkedIn profile, he was a senior vice-president, leading product and design, at Postmates for nearly six years. He is also listed as one of the co-founders of OrderAhead, an online food delivery app that was acquired by Square Inc in 2016.
James first shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer in a post on Instagram last September.
‘September was a cancer diagnosis and pastries,’ his caption read. ‘Recommend you skip the cancer and just acquire the pastries.’
In June this year, James said he had started a new treatment for stage 4 colon cancer, adding: ‘It’s looking positive so far.’
At the time he had completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy and had one surgery – while working out ‘more consistently’ and taking up new hobbies such as tennis.
His viral X post on November 13 was accompanied by a video message on James’ Instagram Stories, explaining that his health had taken a turn for the worse over the past week and he was beginning palliative care.
He revealed that ‘a lot of my blood work came back really bad’ and that there were no more treatment options left for him to try.
‘I’m going to be entering hospice to finish out the rest of my days in comfort and being surrounded by people that I love,’ James said.
‘In no way do I think that this is a lost battle, if anything it’s a tie,’ he continued, with a slight smile.
‘When I die, my cancer dies with me.
‘So all we can do is more forward, right?’ James continued. ‘I just want everyone to know — everyone who has said kind things or been nice throughout this whole journey — that I love you, and I appreciate it.
‘For the people that can’t find the words, I still love you, and I still appreciate you.’
