Former President Barack Obama shared a heartfelt message to Harry Reid, the former Democratic senator of Nevada, who died at the age of 82 after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Obama shared a photo of himself and Reid laughing, detailing their relationship and how Reid aided Obama’s presidential run.

The post also explains when Reid and his family saw his life was dwindling, Reid’s wife Landra asked those close to him to share letters that she could read to him.

Obama’s letter is as follows:

Harry,

I got the news that the health situation has taken a rough turn, and that it’s hard to talk on the phone. Which, let’s face it, is not that big of a change cause you never liked to talk on the phone anyway!

Here’s what I want you to know. You were a great leader in the Senate, and early on you were more generous to me than I had any right to expect. I wouldn’t have been president had it not been for your encouragement and support, and I wouldn’t have got most of what I got done without your skill and determination.

Most of all, you’ve been a good friend. As different as we are, I think we both saw something of ourselves in each other – a couple of outsiders who had defied the odds and knew how to take a punch and cared about the little guy. And you know what, we made for a pretty good team.

Enjoy your family, and know you are loved by a lot of people, including me. The world is better cause of what you’ve done. Not bad for a skinny, poor kid from Searchlight.

Barack