Canadian Mother Battling Metastatic Breast Cancer Passes Away, Leaving Social Media Followers Devastated
Elizabeth Wilson, known as Libby Joan on social media, has tragically lost her life at the age of 39 after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. Wilson had been documenting her journey on various social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter), garnering tens of thousands of followers who were inspired by her strength and determination.
Wilson’s struggle began in April 2019 when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, just seven months after giving birth to her daughter, Violet. However, her battle took a turn for the worse a year later when a PET scan revealed metastases in her liver, lymph nodes, brain, and bones, marking the transition to stage four cancer.
In her last update on X, which was posted on August 27, Wilson expressed the difficulties she had been facing. Health care professionals had suggested she stop treatment, and she revealed that her cancer had spread to various parts of her body. Adding to her challenges, Wilson had also recently broken her femur. Despite these setbacks, she remained positive and continued to share her experience with her followers.
Tragically, Wilson’s husband announced her passing on Friday via a post on X. More than 37,000 followers read the heart-wrenching message, which revealed that Wilson passed away peacefully with her family by her side in the hospital.
The news of Wilson’s death has sparked an outpouring of sympathy and support from people around the world. Many have expressed their love for her and sent their condolences to her grieving family.
Throughout her battle, Wilson took it upon herself to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. In February 2020, she even started a petition urging the Alberta Education Ministry to include breast self-exams in its curriculum. Despite her own background in education, Wilson admitted that she had no idea how to perform a self-examination or the risks of developing cancer at a young age.
In her determination to fight her illness, Wilson relied on fundraising to cover the costs of her treatment. She created a GoFundMe campaign in December 2020, keeping her donors updated on her progress and the challenges she faced within the Canadian healthcare system. Her father later took over the campaign, aiming to raise funds for treatments not covered by the government, additional tests, and clinical trials.
The GoFundMe campaign, titled “Libby’s Cancer Hope Fund,” has received over 1,400 donations, surpassing $65,000 of its goal.
Wilson’s passing is a significant loss for her family and the online community that followed her journey. Her tenacity, courage, and advocacy for breast cancer awareness will continue to inspire many, and her legacy will live on.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to Elizabeth Wilson’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.