Claire Wineland
Claire WinelandInstagram

Youtube star Claire Wineland passed away at the young of 21 on Sunday, September 2. The cystic fibrosis activist, who inspired people around the globe with her speeches on illness, mortality, and motivation, underwent a double lung transplant last week. 

On August 26, Claire suffered a massive stroke after the surgery because of a blood clot that cut off circulation to her brain. Doctors performed an emergency brain surgery to remove the clot and immediately put her into a medically-induced coma.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of progress in her health after a week of treatment. On Sunday, her parents and other family members made the decision to take Claire off the life support.

Claire was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth. She had to wear an oxygen tube at all times and had to eat food that amounted to 4,500 calories per day to keep her alive.

When she was 18, the doctors told Claire that she will not make it without a lung transplant. Earlier this year, she received a call from doctors to inform that had found perfectly healthy lungs. She dreamt of leading a healthier life after the transplant but as fate may have it, it did not happen.

"After a week of intensive care and various life-saving procedures, it became clear that it was Claire's time to go. She was not in any pain and the medical staff said it was the most peaceful passing they had ever witnessed," her parents said. 

This post is about to be a life update/rant of all rants so click if you are bored and in need of entertainment. Two weeks ago I lost my apartment due to mold toxicity that had been building for lord knows how long. I literally can’t explain everything fucked up that has happened because it won’t all fit in a text post but the main points include: having aspergilus in the lungs decreases chances of lung transplant success, I had to put my dog down, we lost all our furniture, I have no money saved up because I have been too sick to work this year, our airbnb has a gas leak and a plethora of other shit that just seems too ridiculous to be true. In all honesty though I am profoundly grateful that my life fell apart this spectacularly. I’ve spent the past year just barely holding myself above ground- juggling being sick with the deep incessant need in me to do something of value with my time. I’ve been exhausted just keeping myself alive and have nothing left to give to the world around me. That has always been my biggest fear in life, that I would spend everything I had “fighting” my illness and have nothing to offer- and for me, living without being able to give something of yourself to the world, living without adding value to the world, is not a life I want. I do not want to fight for a life that consists only of self care, I would rather die than live just for the sake of living. I can sense how fragile this life is, how fragile our futures are. How easy it is to let yourself be swept into a version of your life that you despise. It’s far too easy to let your life become something you resent. Everyone has been scolding me for wanting to stay living on my own, for wanting to move to different side of town and find a home while being on the transplant list. “ why not just wait until after the surgery to try and start your life?”. You can’t put your life on hold until your “better” life begins. You have to fight like hell to make sure that the life reflected back at you right now is one you want to be living. I’m not going to let myself live a life I’m resentful of. Not if I live for another three months and not if I live for another 30 years.

A post shared by Claire Wineland (@claire.wineland) on

Here's everything you need to know about Claire Wineland:

  • At the age of 13, she started 'Claire's Place Foundation' to help out children with cystic fibrosis and their affected families.
  • She was a speaker at TedX and AARC Congress, the 63rd International Respiratory Convention and Exhibition. Claire has also spoken for a number of conferences worldwide.
  • She had over 2,50,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.
  • Claire wrote a book called Every Breath I Take - Surviving and Thriving with Cystic Fibrosis.
  • She also endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2016 election.
  • She saved the lives of two people by donating her kidneys right before she was taken off life support.