Once in a while we come across a selfless and inspiring individual – someone who gives so much of themselves, even while dealing with their own personal struggles. A few months ago I came across such an individual on YouTube. Her name was Eva Markvoort, a 25 year old theater student. Eva was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that affects many organs in the body, particularly the lungs. Even though she had received years of treatment, including two double lung transplants, her health kept deteriorating. She decided to share her last moments with the world and promote awareness of the disease through her own blog, pictures and videos. She was an inspiration to many people around the world, including myself. Her presence and words served as a reminder of how precious life and love really is.
Here is another video of Eva receiving the Summerhayes Award. The award honors an individual with cystic fibrosis who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the cause.
Eva passed away on March 27, 2010.
More information on Eva’s and her mission:
- 65 roses blog: http://65redroses.livejournal.com
- 65 roses video documentary site: http://www.65redroses.com
- CNN news article: Death at 25: Blogging the end of a life