Legacy Memory Boxes

Legacy is a fundamental aspect of end-of-life (EoL) care, providing comfort, purpose, and sense of continuity beyond death. For adolescents and young adults, legacy considerations often intensify following a terminal diagnosis, particularly at this nonnormatively early age. Legacy-building can play a crucial role in maintaining agency, dignity, and emotional well-being.

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In December 2024, Precious Wings launched our new Legacy Memory Boxes, a special initiative co-designed with the Queensland Youth Cancer Service (QYCS) and the QYCS Youth Advisory Group (YAG) from the Queensland Children’s Hospital. These Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Legacy Boxes offer young people facing a terminal cancer diagnosis a way to create lasting memories, navigate difficult conversations, and prepare for end of life in a deeply personal way. 

Each box is thoughtfully designed to help create lasting memories. It includes meaningful items such as a video book for recording messages, fingerprint and handprint kits for keepsakes or jewellery, and writing paper for letters and preserving precious handwriting. The box also contains tools to support conversations about hopes, wishes, and funeral planning, ensuring the young person’s preferences are honoured. Personalised with photos and special mementos, these memory boxes provide a tangible legacy for loved ones—created on their own terms.

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Our vision is to expand this initiative, making Legacy Boxes available to young people and adults across Queensland and Northern New South Wales, regardless of their terminal diagnosis. Our long-term goal is to launch the Legacy Boxes across Australia, ensuring national consistency and the opportunity for all young people to have access to this valuable resource and support.