The Bachelor alum Hailey Merkt, who competed for Nick Viall’s heart during season 21 of the ABC reality dating competition series in 2017, died on July 26. She was 31.
News of Merkt’s death was announced on Tuesday in a statement shared to her Instagram page, which included a slideshow of snapshots celebrating her life.
“It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” read the statement. “Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness. 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,” the statement continued. “Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives.”
“Hailey will be profoundly missed by all who knew her,” the touching tribute expressed. “Her laughter, her love, and her vibrant spirit have left an undeniable mark on our hearts. While we grieve her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in all the lives she touched. Rest in peace, Hailey.”
Hailey has been sharing her cancer battle on social media after being diagnosed with leukemia. In April, she announced on her GoFundMe page that she had been declared “leukemia free.”
“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 update explained at the time. “She had such clarity and independence and grace. 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.”
Hailey is survived by her mother, Michele Merkt, as well as her siblings, Jenny and Kyle.
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