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Sara Bennett, Influencer and ALS Advocate, Dies at 39
Former influencer and advocate Sara Bennett who courageously fought against ALS for almost three years, succumbed to the disease at the age of 39.
Her death was announced by Sara herself through a deeply moving message on her Instagram page shared on January 13. “I’m not in pain or tired. I still can laugh, talk and move,” she wrote beside a love remembrance card and a photo.
In a way, her life during the last months must have been her reflection. She said, “Even though I suffered, I am happy that I didn’t go too suddenly. I finished my list.”
Sara talked about what she called “the after” as well and concluded, “Even if you don’t believe in anything, I am giving my body to the earth, and my tree will grow. I really enjoyed this life, and I am thankful for the time.”
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Sara Bennett’s Life and Work: From a Lifestyle Influencer to ALS Advocate
Sara Bennett launched her social media presence as The Ananda Edit by focusing on lifestyle organization. However, following her ALS diagnosis in March 2023, she changed the name to The Ananda Pivot and documented her ordeal with the disease along with her husband Rusty and their children, Lincoln, (9), and William (7).
Through an Instagram post in May 2024, Sara expressed, “Even when the pivot is in the most heartbreaking situation, it’s not necessary that the whole thing turns out to be bad. We can and should grieve the past and the things that will never be, yet at the same time, I am forced to play my hand, however terrible, in the best way.”
Around the time of her passing, Sara organized an end-of-life ceremony and established holiday traditions for her family and friends to keep the bonds together and to give Rusty the support during the times of loss and grief.
Sara Bennett’s Legacy of Advocacy and Gratitude
Even though the ALS disease had heavily affected her, Sara Bennett, was proud of how she had used her platform to help others. She expressed in a blog post for Her ALS Story on November 6, “Through my platform, I was able to keep using my voice, continue teaching, and reaching out to others. I was deliberate and changed my unimaginable grief into late-night brainstorms.”
She referred to her social media account as a very important tool to her mental health and artistic expression, thus one of the significant parts of her life. “I am very grateful and I should never have been given the chance to make an account about my life journey as a dying mom,” she said.
Her last words to her followers were just a humble but strong invitation: “Be good to each other and love the s–t out of your life.”
Below is the list of other influencers who have revealed their death.
Sara Bennett: A Last Letter of Love and Resilience
At the age of 39, and three years since being diagnosed with ALS, Sara Bennett – who was an influencer and advocate – conveyed her own death to the public on social media. In a very emotional Instagram post of January 2026, she stated that she was ultimately liberated from the physical limits of her disease. “So I am not experiencing any pain, or feeling tired. I can laugh, talk, and I can move,” she wrote, musing on her last months and the serenity of finishing her life’s “list.”
Certainly, Sara changed her brand to The Ananda Pivot so she could share her journey with the public and was able to work around the limitation of the illness. She left a blog post in November 2025 where she declared in a fairly positive tone how her life as a mother and an advocate had given her so much, notwithstanding the heartbreak of her diagnosis. Her final messages were a sincere call to her community: “Be kind to each other and love the s–t out of your life.”
Criscilla Anderson: Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and Reality Star Announces Her Passing
After a protracted battle with colon cancer, Criscilla Anderson ex-Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders choreographer and starring in Netflix’s 2020 reality show Country Ever After, shared the news that she had died at the age of 45.
In heartfelt words, her Instagram post was shared by her good friend Lindsey Villatoro in December 2025, where Criscilla stated, “If you are seeing this, I have gone into the embrace of Jesus—quietly and with love all around me. Please do not let this moment’s darkness hold you back. I fought hard and loved deeply.”
The post was addressed to her children Ethan, Emmarie, and Everleigh, as well as her step-daughter Savannah, who she called “my whole heart” and each one of them individually received a loving message.
The last lines of Criscilla’s words read, “My darlings… I am with you. When a moment feels warm, familiar, or too beautiful to be coincidence—that’s me. I still mother the children. I’m still yours.”
Tanner Martin: Influencer Announces His Passing After Battle with Colon Cancer
Tanner Martin, influencer who has been very open about his five-year struggle with colon cancer and his life with wife Shay Martin and daughter AmyLou, has made a personal announcement of his own death in a posthumous video.
In the midst of his battle with the disease, Tanner who unfortunately has gone to be with the Lord at the age of 30, made a post on his Instagram account in June 2025 saying, “It’s me, Tanner. If you’re thinking that I’m watching you now then I’m really not here.”
Briefly, he told that after witnessing another follower doing the same thing he had the idea to post this video as a good way to share his feelings about it and to bring out the significance of his wife and daughter whom he affectionately called “Jiaozi.”
Tanner Martin’s Last Letter of Thankfulness and Optimism
Through his posthumous video message, Tanner Martin conveyed heartfelt thanks to his followers, ”Everybody, I got a very good life. Thank you so much, guys, seriously, for all that you do for me for the time I was here and all the support and love you gave to me and my little family…”
He requested to his followers that they still keep his wife, Shay, and baby, Jiaozi, in their prayers and support them.
Looking back on the past, Tanner said, “Life was great. I really had a good time during my stay on earth. Honestly, I think there’s a life after death and maybe we’re hanging out now. I just can’t wait to see all the people in the afterlife whom I’m sure won’t be in pain and will just be happy.”
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Bella Bradford: TikTok Star Releases Her Last Statement Before Death
Bella Bradford, a TikTok influencer who had been dealing with a very rare jaw muscle cancer, revealed that she was going to die in October 2024. She was 24 years old at the time.
With tears in her eyes in a sincere video, Bella shared, “Cancer is terminal in my case and unfortunately, I am no more here as I have passed away. But before that I wanted to do a final ‘Get Ready With Me’ because that’s just who I am. I really love doing these and I love fashion.”
She expressed her gratitude to her followers for being there with her and also looked forward to her videos bringing some more happiness to people.
However, Bella left a positive message amidst the sorrow: “Always keep in mind that you live only once and you die only once, so everything counts.”
Fiona MacDonald: Aussie TV Host Reveals Death After Long Fight With Motor Neuron Disease
Aussie TV host Fiona MacDonald took to Instagram to reveal her own death in an October 2024 post that came three years after her diagnosis with motor neuron disease, a condition very similar to ALS.
“Goodbye my friends,” she captioned pictures of her with her sons Harry and Rafe on the beach. “My sister Kylie is sharing this as I have gone. Maybe I’m looking down from a cloud.”
The 67-year-old revealed the devastating effect the disease had on her as she wrote, “Last night put an end to a really hard time for me. I have to say, I have never wanted to die but the idea of going away from my suffering body gave me such a sense of peace.”
With a hopeful note, she concluded her post, “So let’s not say goodbye because I hope to see you all again on the other side—I take your love and laughter with me and I hope you will remember mine.”
Kimberley Nix: Canadian Influencer Reveals Passing After Metastatic Sarcoma Battle
Canadian influencer Kimberley Nix, a resident in internal medicine, revealed that she died in May 2024 after she had shared her three-year struggle with metastatic sarcoma very openly.
In a TikTok video, Kimberley told her followers, “If this message has reached you, I have left this world peacefully.”
The 31-year-old described her life as full of “wonderful things” and mentioned her favorite things such as her pets, makeup collection, and husband Michael MacIsaac.
After being diagnosed in 2021, Kim continued to use her platform to raise awareness of her illness and after telling her story expressed appreciation for the support she received from her online community. “I love you all so much, thank you for this incredible gift,” she said. “I’m crying with joy because you all have helped me discover so much meaning in the time I have left.”
Daniella Thackray: UK Woman Declares Death After Fight with Rare Cancer
Daniella Thackray from Leeds, UK emotionally posted her very last message on Facebook early February 2024 revealing her death after a long fight with cholangiocarcinoma which is a rare and highly aggressive bile duct cancer.
“If you’ve come upon this then it means cancer has finally taken my life, and my loved ones are sharing with you my last message,” she said. Daniella, despite her turmoil, decided to make every moment count and quoted, “I didn’t cry over the life I was losing… but, on the contrary, I made sure to savor every last moment.”
When she was 24, she intended to have more knowledge about her type of cancer, the origin of which is still unknown, and neither can it be cured. She challenged her readers to “romanticise your life” and “go ahead and do whatever it is that makes you happy”.
She signed off with a heartfelt message to her fiancé, Tom Calvert:
“I love you, and that will never change. Be that man and live your life because now you’re more than just deserving of it.”
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Paul Harrell: Firearms Expert and YouTuber Announces His Own Death
Paul Harrell, an expert firearms reviewer and a very popular YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers, posted a “I’m Dead” video (taken back in December 2023) as a message to his community after his fight with pancreatic cancer.
“Hey folks,” Harrell greeted in the video. “If you’re watching, that means I’m dead.”
He told how he thought at the time and told that the cancer was detected at an early stage but it had metastasized quickly to his bones and therefore it was “…a very, very short time.”
The 58-year-old man thanked his viewers very warmly for their likes, comments, shares, and Patreon donations. “I don’t even know how to say it but it means a lot and it really helps and is very much appreciated,” he said.
He apologized to the fans for his early exit in a very moving way. “I, in fact, thought I would be doing this for the next 10 or even 15 years,” he confessed and said the speed of his diagnosis made him feel as if he had “let everybody down.”
