RIP, Claire Wineland: YouTube Star and Inspirational Speaker Dies After Lung Transplant at 21
Famous YouTube star, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, died Sunday night at the age of 21 just a week after lung transplant.
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RIP, Claire Wineland
On Sunday evening, after being taken off life support and using the newly transplanted lungs she received just one week earlier, Claire took her last breath. The cause of death was a massive stroke she suffered soon after the transplant surgery. She was 21.
Claire Wineland became famous and beloved influential for her honest speaking about illness and mortality on social media.
At a 2017 TEDx talk, Ms Wineland spoke about the importance of self-worth when living with a life-shortening illness.
“Life isn’t just about being happy… It’s about what you’re making of your life and whether you can find a deep pride in who you are and what you’ve given,” she said.
Ms Wineland was a supporter of radical Senator Bernie Sanders and she once fled hospital to attend one of his rallies.
The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate paid tribute to her in a post on Twitter.
I would like to acknowledge Claire Wineland who passed away last night. You are an inspiration and brought joy to many. You’ll be missed deeply. pic.twitter.com/BsTEFmquR7
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 4, 2018
It was announced Monday that Claire suffered a massive stroke on Aug 26 after the nine-hour transplant surgery. The inspirational star’s family made the decision to take her off life support.
“[Claire] was not in any pain and the medical staff said it was the most peaceful passing they had ever witnessed,” Wineland’s foundation, Claire’s Place, confirmed on Facebook Monday. “Her mother Melissa Yeager and father John Wineland saw her into this world for her first breath and were with her for her last.”
Source: Facebook
From posting photos of her treatments from the hospital to giving inspirational speeches, Wineland worked to help others with the same genetic disease. Even after her death, she helped to save other lives, as her right kidney was transplanted to a 44-year-old woman in San Diego, and her left kidney was transplanted to a 55-year-old male in Northern California.
Source: CNN
What is cystic fibrosis?
‘Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes persistent infections in the lungs and limits one’s ability to breathe over time.
A defective gene causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs, clogging airways and trapping bacteria that leads to infections, lung damage and eventually respiratory failure.
Mucus buildup also occurs in the pancreas, preventing the release of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food and absorb vital nutrients.
CF is typically diagnosed in infancy and has a life expectancy rate of 37 years old.
There are approximately 30,000 cases of CF in the US, with roughly 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
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