Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer at the tender age of five years old. Given at most 135 days to live, Elena fought through her illness for 255 days before passing away in 2007. Despite having her life drastically cut short, Elena is still finding a way to share her love for her parents, sister, dog and other family members, through hidden love notes she secretly placed around their home.

Elena, who used art as an outlet during her treatment, began writing and hiding the notes shortly after her diagnosis. Many months after her death, her parents Brooke and Keith began finding the love notes, hidden in between CD cases, in dresser drawers and inside backpacks.

"It just felt like a little hug from her, like she was telling us she was looking over us"

Here are a few of her youthful drawings and heartfelt letters:

Elena's parents were so touched they decided to share them with the world by publishing the book Notes Left Behind, which will fund pediatric brain cancer research through the non-profit organization The Cure Starts Now. See more of Elena’s notes here.

Here is a Today Show segment on Elena's story:

This is one of the most genuinely heartwarming stories we've ever shared. What an enormous heart from such a young girl.

via Neatorama