Rebecca Gayheart discusses Eric Dane's posthumous memoir and family grief

Rebecca Gayheart, the actress who was married to "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane, discussed the release of his posthumous memoir, "My Book of Days," ahead of its publication. The book, co-written with Alan Eisenstock, details Dane's experience with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), his early career, personal struggles, and includes advice for his teenage daughters, Billie (16) and Georgia (14).

Gayheart said she hopes the memoir will allow fans to see Dane beyond his well-known television role. > "He was a very complicated human being. Humans are complicated. Someone may look shiny and perfect on the outside, but they may not feel that way on the inside," she told USA TODAY.

Dane, who died on Feb. 19 at age 53 from complications of ALS, continued acting after his diagnosis, appearing on NBC's "Brilliant Minds" and returning to "Euphoria" for its third season. He also became an advocate for ALS awareness.

In the memoir, Dane leaves a message for his daughters: "Fight, girls – and hold your heads high." Gayheart described the grieving process as non-linear, noting periods of anger, sadness, and longing as she watches her children grow without Dane's presence. > "I want to call Eric and tell him about it, and I can't. That's really hard," she said.

Gayheart recalled reading the manuscript on a flight from Belize, describing the experience as emotional. She added that Dane would have been pleased with the final product. > "There's a beautiful message in the book for everyone, which is ‘Don’t wait.’ Life is precious and it’s easy to forget that. Take all the shots, do all the things and be a good friend, sister, father, husband, wife – whatever it is. I think that is a message that will resonate with anyone," she said.