Teen influencer Zuza Beine dies after 11-year battle with leukemia

The family of Zuza Beine, a Wisconsin teenager who documented an 11-year battle with acute myeloid leukemia, announced her death on Sept. 24. She was 14.

Zuza used her social media to share treatment updates, get-ready-with-me videos, and dances with friends, building a following that exceeded two million across Instagram and TikTok.

Her family said she chronicled her treatment on the Instagram account @Zuzas_Way_To_Healing, which began in 2020 and attracted a large audience as she faced the ups and downs of cancer therapy while continuing to live a relatively active teenage life.

Zuza was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at three years old, and her bio noted that she had beaten the disease five times. Over the course of her illness, she underwent three bone marrow transplants and multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

In her final posts, she spoke candidly about the pain and challenges of her treatment, including a seizure, while also expressing gratitude for the things in life that brought her joy. One of her late messages stated, "I'm going to be honest, lately my health has not been the best. Physically and mentally. I have been in so much pain lately. I'm constantly on pain medicine."

In another update, she conveyed a perspective that resonated with many followers: "Being diagnosed with cancer has made me deeply grateful for the everyday things that many people often take for granted."

The family shared the news on social media, asking supporters to donate to a GoFundMe set up for the family of her recently deceased uncle. The page has raised almost $80,000. Beine was also a member of TikTok's Glow House, a group of young women who create content centered on resilience and empowerment.

Medical authorities describe acute myeloid leukemia as a cancer that starts in the bone marrow and can progress rapidly into the bloodstream. While the condition is more commonly diagnosed in adults, pediatric cases occur and require aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, depending on the individual case. The family and supporters emphasized the importance of community, gratitude, and ongoing research in the fight against pediatric cancers, noting that Zuza lived with intensity and grace even as she battled the disease.