One of Justin Bieber’s fans; Hayley Okines, known as the “100-year-old teenager” died Thursday night. She was 17.
Her mother Kerry announced the news in a Facebook post, writing, “My baby has gone somewhere better. She took her last breath in my arms at 9.39pm.”
Hayley, who had the rare premature aging disease Progeria, had been told she wouldn’t live past the age of 13. She did, though, going on to write an autobiography at age 14 titled Young at Heart: The Likes and Life of a Teenager With Progeria.
She was an advocate for raising awareness about the rare genetic condition, participating in several TV documentaries discussing the disease and later enrolling in a U.S.-based clinical drug trial. Her story won over the hearts of many people around the world — including Justin Bieber!
A year before her 13th birthday she got to meet Justin Bieber face to face on her birthday after a campaign was started on Twitter.
Her mom Kerry said shortly after the special meeting:
“Some girls started a campaign on Twitter to get Hayley to meet Justin.
“Justin Bieber’s people heard about it and contacted us. We arranged to meet him at a London hotel last December as a surprise for Hayley’s birthday.”
“When she saw him she just screamed and attracting attention from everyone in the hotel!”
“I remember I came down the stairs and he was just standing there. I was so surprised I just screamed and ran up to him and put my arms around him.”
Justin described her as “special”, and Hayley were captured sharing a tender hug when they met in 2010.
“About to meet someone very special soon,” Justin wrote to his millions of followers.