Photo: @HaileyMerkt/Instagram
Hailey Merkt, who appeared on the 21st season of The Bachelor, has died at the age of 31 following a battle with cancer, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account Tuesday (July 30).
"It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life. Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness," the caption of a carousel of photos states. "Her determination, courage, and will to live surpassed every timeline the doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she cherished most with no regrets.
"She will forever be remembered as anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment. Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives."
Merkt chronicled her cancer battle on her social media accounts after being diagnosed with leukemia. The Bachelor alum previously revealed that she was "leukemia free" on her GoFundMe page, which has since been updated following her death.
“After the bone marrow transplant had taken, she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer, but in truth she only had 6 weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast,” the fundraiser states. “Her first reaction was to say, ‘I don't care about myself anymore, but I can't bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love.’”
“I am in awe of her. She had such clarity and independence and grace,” the update added. “She decided she wanted to live every last minute she had to the fullest: being with the people she loved and doing the things she loved, and she loved doing so many simple things. A drink on a patio. Being in the sun. Her family and friends. Her dog, Snuggles. Swimming. An organized cupboard. A checklist of tasks all ticked off. Hanging out in a favourite park. Looking beautiful, with all the creativity that entails. Being beautiful. A beautiful soul.”