The world lost one of the all-time great comic geniuses in 2014, when actor and stand up comic Robin Williams took his own life.
The beloved entertainer suffered from Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive type of dementia that affects thought, memory, and movement.
According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with this form of dementia suffer from memory loss, depression, difficulty moving, and also hallucinations.
Last July, as what would have been Robin's 68th birthday was approaching, his daughter Zelda shared a photo of them in happier times with a message to Robin's fans.
It addressed the incredible love Robin's fans still have for him, but also how painful his loss still feels for Zelda years later.
"It's that time of year again. Everyone who has dealt with loss knows the pain of certain anniversaries, moments full of memory that come round like clockwork and usurp all others, no matter how hard you may try to prepare for or avoid them," she wrote.
"For all the internet's good intentions in expressing to me their fondness for dad, it's very overwhelming to have strangers need me to know how much they cared for him right now," she added.
It's easy to see how Zelda could be bombarded with messages from well-meaning fans on the anniversary of Robin's death. Instead, she suggested a better way to honor his memory.
"Thank you for loving him," she wrote. "Thank you for supporting him and his life's work. Thank you for missing him. I do too."
"If you'd like to do something in his honor, volunteer at your local homeless shelter, or look up how to make homeless aid backpacks. Give one in his name. He'd have loved that."
Zelda also listed a few charitable organizations her father loved: Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and the Reeve Foundation.
"Mostly, try to spread some laughter and kindness around," she suggested. "And creatively swear a lot. [Every time] you do, somewhere out there in our vast weird universe, he's giggling with you... or giving a particularly fat bumblebee its wings."
"Miss you every day," Zelda ended the message to her "Poppo."
These days, Zelda is charting her own career in Hollywood as an actress and voice actress. She also writes and produces her own projects, and told talk show host Chelsea Handler that her grief also led to inspiration.
"A lot of great stuff came out of that," she said about the period after Robin's death. "I ended up writing 12 scripts, which was great, but then you're like 'Is there something wrong with me?'"
It turns out Robin even offered his daughter some sage acting advice before he passed away.
"It was always, you know, be kind, work very hard," Zelda shared with ET at the Tribeca TV Festival last year.
She also took the time to address her father's lasting legacy. "I'm really happy," she said. "You know, I'm part of film [too] and you hope that the things you make make people happy for as long as they can."
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can receive free help any time by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
[H/T: E! Online]
