need some help with english to italian translation! :)

[sextasy]

so im about to do a tattoo in italian since i have relatives down there ( im swedish ), but i dunno the correct translation of this text i want to do.
Here it goes :

"not until we're close to death we're alive for real"

..or something like it if an exact translation is impossible.. thanks for your help guys!

[Lady_A]

Here is my try, I've tried to keep the meaning as it is and not switch the words.

Non prima di arrivare alla morte, siamo veramente vivi.

[sextasy]

thx! can anyone confirm?