The video blogger passed away after suffering a stroke shortly after undergoing a successful double lung transplant.
- Sep 5, 2018
AceShowbiz - Social media star Claire Wineland has died one week after receiving a lung transplant.
The YouTube video blogger and activist, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, passed away on Sunday night (September 02) after suffering a stroke shortly after undergoing a successful double lung transplant on 26 August. She was 21.
Announcing the news on Monday, Claire's family confirmed that they had decided to take her off life support following a week of intensive care.
"(Claire) was not in any pain and the medical staff said it was the most peaceful passing they had ever witnessed," they said in a statement posted on the Claire's Place Foundation Facebook. "She was surrounded by love and with her mother Melissa Yeager and father John Wineland; they saw her into this world for her first breath and were with her for her last.
"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."
Later that day, Claire's mother confirmed to editors at CNN that her daughter was able to save the lives of two people, with her right kidney transplanted to a 44-year-old woman in San Diego, and her left kidney donated to a 55-year-old man in Northern California.
Claire became known for sharing her journey of cystic fibrosis online, a genetic condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system that can result in breathing problems, an increased risk of lung infections and reduced function of the lungs.
In May, she excitedly told her followers that she had made the transplant list and on 26 August, tweeted photos from a hospital in San Diego celebrating the news about her lung transplant surgery.
"OMG!! Got THE CALL for lungs at 5:30am! Waiting at UCSD to make sure they are a go..if so, I could have new lungs TODAY!! (sic)" she wrote alongside a photo of her family and friends. "It's a GO!!! Surgeon said they are perfect!! See y'all on the other side."
