Need a good cry? Well, look no further.

A Cape Town paediatrician has used Twitter to share what the terminally ill children in his care enjoy most in life, and it should loosen up those tear ducts.

Working for non-profit organisation PaedsPal in Rondebosch, Alistair McAlpine cares for children who have life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses on a daily basis, making sure they feel as little pain as possible.

McAlpine asked his young patients what it is they enjoyed in life, and posted his findings online.

The answers from the patients, aged between four and nine, were heartwarming, often humorous and also pretty gut-wrenching at times.

McAlpine pointed out that none of them “wished they had watched more TV, spent more time on Facebook or enjoyed hospital”:

Instead, he details how much they liked talking about their pets, their love of ice cream and building sandcastles on the beach.

The doctor tweeted examples of what some of the children had said, with one youngster adding, “I love when Ginny snuggles up to me at night and purrs.”

Are you ready for the full thread? Brace yourself:

Thread three, wow.

Always, always eat ice-cream.

Does anyone have a tissue?

[source:twitter]