Claire Wineland died Sunday, a week after suffering a stroke following a lung transplant, leaving her loved ones and followers grieving the loss of a young woman who spent a large chunk of her 21 years inspiring thousands as she publicly documented her struggles with cystic fibrosis.
Earlier this year the plucky Californian sought a lung transplant as her health began to decline, The Washington Post noted.
Through crowdfunding, Wineland raised $265,000 for the pricey procedure as over 8,900 people logged on to donate to her GoFundMe campaign, and on Aug. 26, she was notified that an organ match had been found.
"Death is inevitable, but living a life we are proud of is something we can control," Wineland wrote on her GoFundMe page.
"Waiting at UCSD to make sure they are a go..if so, I could have new lungs TODAY!!," she added in a tweet.
However, shortly after the transplant Wineland suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot.
"After a week of intensive care and various life-saving procedures, it became clear that it was Claire's time to go," the foundation that she set up at 13 said in a Facebook post. "She was not in any pain and the medical staff said it was the most peaceful passing they had ever witnessed."
The foundation added that, "in Claire fashion, she is an organ donor" and that her family is happy to know that other families will receive the organs they have long been waiting for.
Wineland's strong social media presence made her a sought-after public speaker and ambassador for cystic fibrosis awareness.
She was featured on CNN as well as "The Dr. Oz Show" and was named as one of the College Women of the Year in 2018 by Glamour Magazine, The Washington Post reported.
In a TEDx talk last year, Wineland spoke about how her illness made her appreciate life.
"Life isn't just about being happy. ... It's not about how you feel second to second," she said, according to CNN. "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."
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