article_snippet: A dying father known as 'napkin dad' for A dying father known as 'napkin dad' for his daily heartfelt notes to his daughter daily heartfelt notes to A dying father known as 'napkin dad' for his daily heartfelt notes to his daughter , has celebrated seeing Dear Emma achieve another milestone: making Dear Emma high school varsity softball team.
article_snippet: Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia, has been writing short messages on napkins for A dying father known as 'napkin dad' for his daily heartfelt notes to his daughter daughter Emma, 15, since Dear Emma was in kindergarten - and now Dear Emma looks forward to Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia every day.
article_snippet: The heartwarming ritual has scored A dying father known as 'napkin dad' for his daily heartfelt notes to his daughter a book deal and a movie is said to be in the works too.
article_snippet: Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, VirginiaGlen Allen, Virginia, has been writing short messages on napkins for his daughter Emma, 15, since Dear Emma was in kindergarten - and now Dear Emma looks forward to Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia every day .
article_snippet: My goal is to actually write notes for my grandkids
article_snippet: The note-writing has long been a tradition in the Callaghan household; The note-writing began when Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia worked a busy sales job in Dear Emma's elementary school days and wouldn't see Dear Emma often.
article_snippet: Long-running: The note-writing has long been a tradition in the Callaghan household .
article_snippet: Thoughtful gesture: It began when Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia worked a busy sales job in Dear Emma's elementary school days and wouldn't see Dear Emma often .
article_snippet: So that Dear Emma always knew her father was thinking of Dear Emma, Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia would write the notes - which were then just hearts, stars and simple words - and include them in Dear Emma lunch box .
article_snippet: So that she always knew her father was thinking of her, Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia would write the notes - which were then just hearts, stars and simple words - and include them in her lunch boxher lunch box.
article_snippet: Determined: After learning he had cancer, Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia sought to write 800 notes so that his daughter would have one every day throughout high school - even if he was no longer alive to put it in his daughter lunch box .
article_snippet: But in 2011, Garth Callaghan, 45, from Glen Allen, Virginia was diagnosed with cancer and he desire to write the notes - which were then just hearts, stars and simple words - and include them in her lunch box became even stronger because, 'at the end of the day, the notes - which were then just hearts, stars and simple words - and include them in her lunch box might be the only thing his daughter has left of me'.
highlights_snippet: Virginia dad Garth Callaghan has been writing notes for Dear Emma since Dear Emma was little and Dear Emma has become a tradition between father and daughter .
  
highlights_snippet: Virginia dad Garth Callaghan is now writing notes ahead of time and storing them away
highlights_snippet: so Dear Emma can still receive them after Virginia dad Garth Callaghan is gone.