Hailey Merkt, a participant from Bachelor season 21, lost her fight with leukemia on Friday, July 26.
On Tuesday, July 30, a statement on Hailey’s Instagram stated, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.” “Hailey showed unfathomable bravery, elegance, and selflessness in facing this trip.
She defied all medical expectations with her tenacity, bravery, and will to live, and she made the conscious decision to live out her last days with her loved ones by doing the things she enjoyed most and without regrets.
The post highlighted that Merkt will be remembered for being far from dull, consistently hilarious, and someone who fully embraced each moment. It also noted, “Hailey lived life with an extraordinary enthusiasm, and her wonderful spirit has impacted many people.”
The tribute went on to say, “Hailey will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. Her joy, affection, and dynamic presence have made a lasting impression on our hearts. As we mourn her passing, we take solace in the fact that her spirit continues to influence all those she touched. Rest in peace, Hailey.”
The message encouraged people to share their best memories with Hailey and thanked everyone who has helped her along the way. The message closed with the words, “Your stories and moments mean the world.”
Hailey’s GoFundMe campaign will run through August 10th. Hailey first came to the attention of Bachelor Nation in 2017 when she competed for Nick Viall’s affections in season 21 of The Bachelor. In the series’ second week, Hailey was eliminated.
Following the announcement of Hailey’s passing, a number of Bachelor Nation celebrities paid tribute to her on social media.
In the strangest of locations, I met and fell in love with the purest, warmest, most beautiful person, and I will always be grateful for our friendship—both there and back home. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have heard your laugh.
Danielle Maltby, who also made an appearance on Nick’s season, commented, “What a force my girl, rest easy so much love to all your people. “Runner-up in Season 21 And Raven Gates said, “Oh my god! I was really hopeful for her recovery, so I’m really sorry to hear this. Hailey, rest easy; you’ll always be remembered.
During her GoFundMe campaign, Hailey was open about her struggle with leukemia. Hailey stated in April that she was “leukemia free,” but according to a July update, things changed.
According to the post, “she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer after the bone marrow transplant had taken place, but in reality she only had six weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast.”
“I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear to be the source of so much suffering for the people I love,” was her initial response.
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