TikTok star, 19, tragically dies after issuing final message to followers as mother speaks out with emotional tribute
A TikTok star has sadly passed away just days after her diagnosis with brain cancer a year prior.
On Saturday (May 24), the family of 19-year-old Anna Phelan announced her passing on social media, writing that she had 'went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'.
The statement, which was posted by her mother, Nadine, continued: "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. Let us also remember that the only path to the promised kingdom of Heaven is through salvation in Jesus Christ. Details of the funeral arrangements to follow. God bless her beautiful soul."
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According to her obituary, the content creator graduated from Jefferson High School last year and had worked as a receptionist at Georgia Skin Cancer and Aesthetic Dermatology.
However, before she started her first year at college, Anna was diagnosed with an inoperable Grade 4 malignant brain tumour, which was categorized as a glioma, according to a GoFundMe page set up in her name.
The Brain Tumour Charity says that diffuse midline gliomas are more common in children but can also occur in adults.
These types of tumours are typically fast-growing, likely to spread to other areas, and difficult to remove as they do not have 'well-defined borders'. They also grow from a glial cell in the brain stem, the thalamus, and the spinal cord.
The 19-year-old then began documenting her journey with cancer on various social media platforms, like TikTok, where she amassed 142.6k followers.
Anna described her initial symptoms in a previous video, saying: "I started losing my balance. I started having vision problems in my left eye, my numbness in my face and on my leg is still here.
"My speech started to seem weird. My head's very foggy."
In her final video to her fans, Anna described receiving a package from Tim Tebow, a former American footballer who is now a college football analyst for ESPN and SEC Network and author.
Tebow kindly sent her a signed copy of his book, a cream jumper (which Phelan is wearing in the clip) and a heartfelt note.
After the news of her passing was shared, her fans took to the post to offer their condolences to her family, with one person writing: "Rest in peace Anna."
"So sorry for the loss of Anna Grace. Rest in eternal peace." another said, while a third commented: "Heaven gained the most beautiful angel rest easy beautiful."
And a fourth said: "I'm so sorry for your guys loss. I have never been so upset to hear of someone's passing before that I have never met. May Anna Grace rest in peace."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].
Britt Jones