Edmonton's Julie Rohr dies six years after cancer diagnosis
An Edmonton woman whose story led to a massive show of support across social media has died six years after her initial cancer diagnosis.
Julie Rohr's family confirmed the news from her Twitter account on Thursday afternoon. She was 38.
The thread of tweets thanked Rohr's supporters for being "part of her journey."
"So many of you went from being Twitter friends to real-life friends," the tweet read in part. "She was so grateful for that, for you, for the experience. She cherished your support and friendship."
The thread goes on to share Rohr's final wish, which was to tweet out a message to her friends.
"Friends, it’s been a wonderful life," Rohr's message read. "I leave with some sadness, of course; I wish I could have stayed with you much longer. I had so many memories to make, so much I still wanted to do, say and experience.
“But I leave this earthly world with no regrets - I have told the ones I love how much I love them, I have opened my heart to life and many of you have opened your hearts back to me in turn. My life experience has been rich and beauty-filled.
“Thank you for your support in the past years. My family & I have been incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and encouragement from so many of you. I often said it lifted me above the pain and suffering of the disease I lived with.
"Cry for a time, however long that may be. Feel the grief you feel, as I allowed myself to do. Lean into the pain of goodbye. But eventually, lift your face towards the sun and allow joyful memories to be the lingering thought. Both and I hope I brought you joy.
"I hope I enriched your life experience. I hope my story inspired you to reach for strength & love even on the hardest, most painful days. Every day is a gift. May yours be full of beauty and wonder.
"This is goodbye for now. I leave you with some of my favourite poems, 'Epitaph,' by Merrit Malloy, & words of Mary Oliver. Be good to each other. Be kind to yourselves. May you open your heart to love even though it means inevitable pain.”
In 2015, Rohr was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that grows in smooth muscles. And last week, Rohr announced that she was moving to hospice care.
'TREMENDOUS INSPIRATION AND POSITIVITY'
During a Thursday afternoon media availability, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson reacted to Rohr's death, calling it "heartbreaking."
"But I think the reason it's heartbreaking is because of the gift that she and her friends and family have shared with us through her cancer journey, which is one of tremendous inspiration and positivity," he said.
"On behalf of the City of Edmonton, our hearts go out to Julie's family."
Earlier this week, Rohr's story garnered so much attention that it reached Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy who tweeted out a video to support her during her final days.
Levy's gesture was the first of several from Canadian celebrities including Ryan Reynolds and Rick Mercer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.