Anna Grace Phelan, a teenage TikTok star, has sadly passed away following a battle with brain cancer.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed to the 19-year-old's 150,000 followers in a statement posted to her TikTok page: “It is with great sadness to announce that our beautiful daughter, Anna Grace Phelan, went home to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
The post continued, reflecting on her extraordinary courage and unwavering faith: “So many of you have followed her journey through a difficult battle with cancer and bore witness to her powerful testimony of faith. Thank you for the countless thousands of prayers for healing and peace. May we all rejoice with the assurance that she is in Heaven now, and she has been healed.”
Anna Grace first revealed her diagnosis with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor, in September last year, just days before she was set to begin her first year of college, per the Mirror.
What started as slurred speech and numbness quickly escalated into a devastating reality.
“I started having vision problems in my left eye, my numbness in my face and on my leg is still here,” she told her followers. “My speech started to seem weird. My head’s very foggy.”
She described it as the "hardest news" she'd ever received.
Yet even as her health deteriorated, her spirit remained fierce. On May 14, she posted an emotional update: “Things haven’t been good. My tumor grew and it’s in the area where I can’t breathe. It can’t be operated.”
Still, she didn’t give up hope. “It would take a miracle, but I’m not giving up yet. If you keep praying for me, I think that I’ll make it.”
Anna Grace’s raw honesty and faith touched thousands. Since her passing, tributes have poured in from around the world, with followers expressing their sorrow and admiration.
One heartbroken commenter wrote: “Omg did anyone randomly think about her just now and this was just posted?! Omg... my heart is broken for her friends and family.”
Another paid tribute to her unbreakable spirit: “Anna Grace today you became the most beautiful guardian angel to those who had the opportunity to love and be loved by you. I hope you’re dancing with the angels and singing songs of praise as you are finally out of pain. You inspired so many and you will NEVER forget a second be forgotten. We love you pretty girl.”
A powerful message came from an older fan who was moved by her wisdom: “As a 43 year old woman, Anna has had such an impact on me. What an incredible young woman who allowed God to mold her into faith filled young woman with hope, intelligence, patience, and love. As the mourning for you is incalculable, I want to thank you for sharing her with the world.”
Support for the Phelan family has been overwhelming.
A GoFundMe page set up for Anna Grace’s fight raised over $60,000.
A recent update noted: “Her parents William ‘Buddy’ Phelan and Nadine Phelan, have set up a separate account specifically for Anna. They will continue to steward the management of these funds. We are grateful for every bit of support you continue to shower the Phelans with during this impossible time.”
Anna Grace is survived by her parents and her brother, Harper David Phelan.