Beloved TikTok star Leah Smith passed away on Monday following a brave fight against a rare form of bone cancer, as confirmed by her boyfriend in a deeply emotional post shared on her TikTok account on Tuesday.
At just 22 years old, Smith chronicled her fight against Ewing’s Sarcoma on TikTok, a rare bone disease that usually affects children and young adults.
In 2020, the English TikToker, who had amassed over half a million followers, opened up about her diagnosis. She shared that she received the distressing news after experiencing a complete loss of sensation in her left leg and seeking medical attention. Prior to her diagnosis, she had endured 10 months of back pain, unaware of the alarming underlying cause.
A GoFundMe campaign was initiated last year to gather funds for Smith’s alternative treatment as her cancer had spread to her lungs. The campaign successfully raised nearly $10,000. During the fundraiser, her friend mentioned that the cancer had progressed to stage 4.
Throughout the year that ensued, Smith chronicled her struggle with the illness up until her last moments. Her ultimate video, in which she directly addressed her followers, was released on Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, Smith’s mother shared heart-wrenching messages, revealing that by the weekend, Smith had become unable to move or speak.
Just hours before her boyfriend, Andrew Moore, fought back tears in a heart-wrenching video on Monday, the devastating news of Smith’s passing was announced. Moore revealed that Smith had tragically passed away earlier that day at around 11:30 a.m.
He expressed his commitment to ensuring that Leah would never be forgotten.
According to Moore, Smith made it a point to read every comment left under her videos and express gratitude for the immense support she received throughout her struggle. As of Tuesday afternoon, the video announcing her passing had garnered a staggering nine million views and attracted 63,000 comments.
Moore expressed her gratitude, acknowledging that any kind words spoken about her meant more to her than people might realize. Liam, Smith’s brother, also took the opportunity to extend his thanks to everyone who has supported Leah and their family during this time.
