An influencer from the Netherlands has died from a rare cancer after telling her followers ‘I’m not ready to go’.
Jade Kops, 19, documented her journey to a global audience after sharing her cancer diagnosis at 14 years old.
The teenager wrote a heart wrenching post on Instagram on April 6, which was addressed: ‘Dear annoying tumour’.
Alongside a photo of her cuddling a loved one, she begged the tumour in her throat to stop – as it ‘pulls’ her ‘a day closer to death’.
She wrote: ‘In November I could still make plans, do fun things and hope for more time. Now it feels like that grip is slowly slipping away from my hands.
‘The ticking time bomb has exploded.’
Jade described being ‘intensely tired’ of the tumour, and continued: ‘I don’t want to leave just yet. I still want to be here. Stay for a while, feel for a while and be close to the people I love.
‘So when you don’t leave, but still stay, dear tumour…slow down the please. Give me time. I’m still happy and far from ready to go.’
Alongside a photo of her cuddling a loved one, Jade Kops begged the tumour in her throat to stop – as it ‘pulls’ her ‘a day closer to death’
Her family announced Jade died on Friday morning. With an attached photo of Jade, the post read: ‘Intensely sad and incredibly proud of our brave daughter and sister, we would like to let you know that Jade passed away this morning at 5:50 in front of us’
Her family announced Jade died on Friday morning. With an attached photo of Jade, the post read: ‘Intensely sad and incredibly proud of our brave daughter and sister, we would like to let you know that Jade passed away this morning at 5:50 in front of us.’
Jade died after suffering from the effects of rhabdomyoscarma, which is a rare form of cancer that causes tumours to develop in the muscle tissue.
The teenager’s journey was followed by 444,000 people after she was diagnosed in 2021.
In an Instagram post on March 24, Jade reflected on a sense of surrealism as she chose her own ‘spot’ in a cemetery – describing how she felt the world was one she was ‘not part of today’.
She wrote: ‘The idea that in a little while my name will be written here on a grave causes a lot of sadness on the way back. I’m even more grateful for every morning I wake up…’
Alongside her social media presence, Jade also authored her best selling autobiography last year titled Forever Young: My Life with Cancer.
Over the last five years, Jade raised €2million (£1.7million) for the Princess Maxima Center in Ultrecht, Netherlands, which also researches caner in children.
Jade founded the ‘Jade Uitwaaimomenten Foundation’, alongside her parents, which organises trips for families impacted by childhood cancer.
The teenager’s journey was followed by 444,000 people after she was diagnosed in 2021
Her advocacy work was recognised through receiving a royal distinction in 2024, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau – the youngest person to do so.
Doctors told Jade in September 2024 there was no further treatments they could offer.
Jade will be given a public farewell in Naaldwijk, South Holland, on Friday May 1 through a guard of honour.