Warning: This article discusses assisted dying and may be distressing to some readers.
Canadian TikTok creator Rebecca Luna has died through medical assistance in dying (MAID) after being diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s in her 40s.
Keep reading to learn more.
Rebecca Luna, who used the social media username @wheredidrebeccago, had previously spoken openly with her more than 90,000 followers about her diagnosis and her decision to pursue assisted dying. The British Columbia mother of two had shared updates about her declining health after raising concerns with her doctor last year and learning that she had developed young-onset Alzheimer’s.
The condition is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that affects people under 65 and can develop during a person’s 40s or 50s. Luna said she had been given an estimated life expectancy of five to seven years following her diagnosis.
Her daughter, Maya, confirmed on Monday, July 27, that Luna had died two days earlier, describing her passing as peaceful and saying she was surrounded by loved ones.
Luna had previously told her followers that she planned to undergo MAID, which has been legal in Canada since 2016. She also revealed that her assisted-dying date had been moved forward from August because of the rapid deterioration of her condition.
In her final video, Luna explained that the decision had been an incredibly difficult one.
“For the last two weeks I’ve been making the decision,” she said, adding that she no longer felt comfortable or safe in her own body.
Luna said she had not wanted to die before turning 50 and would never have chosen to live with young-onset Alzheimer’s. However, she said she felt she had already experienced significant suffering throughout her life and wanted to spend her remaining time surrounded by family and friends.
Reflecting on her life, Luna also spoke about surviving an abusive childhood and overcoming addiction. She said she was proud to have remained sober while dealing with her diagnosis and the emotional challenges that came with it.
“I’ve had a really traumatic life. I’ve already gone through enough suffering,” she told her followers.
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Luna also described the positive qualities she believed she had developed through her experiences, saying they had helped her understand who she was and the kind of person she wanted to be.
Her final video marked the end of her regular social media updates, with Luna telling followers that she would step away from creating content to focus on her loved ones during her final days.
Since her death, tributes have been shared online by those who followed her journey and connected with her openness about living with a devastating diagnosis at a relatively young age.
Her story has also renewed conversations about young-onset Alzheimer’s, the challenges faced by people living with progressive neurological diseases, and the deeply personal decisions surrounding end-of-life care.
Share this with others who like to keep themselves up to date with the latest news.
READ MORE
