Claire Wineland helped take the stigma off cystic fibrosis, but the social media activist died on Sunday following a lung transplant on Aug. 26 that led to a stroke. At only 21 years old, she had more than 250,000 YouTube followers and delivered a viral Ted Talk.
Her videos offered clarity and hope. The Californian was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, according to the Washington Post, and used YouTube and Instagram to log the treatments and day-to-day joy she found despite her illness. As the Post writes, she became a natural social media star because people were “drawn to the magnetic teenager’s plucky humor and candor about living on the edge of death.”
Her foundation, Claire’s Place, a non-profit fundraising for cystic fibrosis families, confirmed her passing on Monday on its Facebook page:
In Claire fashion, she is an organ donor. Claire’s remarkable family were so happy for the other families that were now getting the calls that the organ they had long been waiting for was now available for transplant. They had been on the receiving end of that call just one short week ago.
We know Claire was loved all over the world. Your prayers, support and encouraging words, have been a huge source of strength for her and her family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your massive amazing out pouring of love.
Wineland’s cystic fibrosis meant a lifetime of hospital stays to treat the excess buildup of mucus in her lungs, and dozens of procedures, according to her foundation. Her YouTube videos like “Dying 101” and “What It Feels Like to Die” combined harrowing life events with candid warmth. But this year her health declined, and Wineland raised $265,000 via GoFundMe for a lung transplant. On Labor Day weekend, the internet lost the kind of optimistic and activist that makes its most frequented platforms into more purposeful places.
H/T BBC