Late Bachelor star Hailey Merkt documented her harrowing battle with cancer online – sharing details of her treatments and revealing just months before her tragic death that she had gone into remission.
Hailey’s family announced that she had passed away at age 31 via Instagram on Tuesday evening, following a lengthy battle with leukemia.
Before her death, the reality star, who is best known for appearing on season 21 of The Bachelor when she competed for Nick Viall’s affections, was brutally honest about the horrific symptoms that came with the disease.
She often spoke out about the intense lows on her Instagram – like struggling to eat due to the nausea, feeling so exhausted that she could hardly get up to shower, and trembling as she underwent injection after injection.
But the late TV personality also captured the rare highs throughout her treatments, like catching a sunset out of the hospital window and getting to eat whatever she wanted because she was no longer worried about dieting.
Hailey Merkt documented her harrowing battle with cancer online – sharing details of her treatments and revealing months before her death that she had gone into remission
The Bachelor alum’s family announced that she had passed away at age 31 on Tuesday, following a lengthy battle with leukemia. She’s seen on The Bachelor with Nick Viall
Hailey first revealed that she had been diagnosed with leukemia in October 2023, when she uploaded a video of herself shaving off her hair to her Instagram Stories.
At the time, she said that she had already tried chemotherapy and that it ‘didn’t work.’
She added that while she was about to start another type of treatment, there was a ‘pretty good chance she wouldn’t make it.’
‘Really scared to post this but it’s time to let a lot of people that care about me know what’s happening with me,’ she wrote at the time.
‘I have leukemia, and there’s a pretty good chance I won’t make it. Chemo didn’t work and I have one more (known to be less effective) method left.
‘If I read your DM and don’t respond right away, know that it’s because I’m tired and don’t have energy. But not because I don’t appreciate you.’
One week later, she revealed that she had officially started the new treatment.
She posted a selfie from her hospital bed, which she captioned, ‘Starting my last chance.’
Before her death, the reality star was brutally honest about the horrific symptoms that came with the disease and she often spoke out about the intense lows on her Instagram
Hailey first revealed that she had been diagnosed with leukemia in October 2023, when she uploaded a video of herself shaving off her hair to her Instagram Stories
One week later, she revealed that she had officially started a new treatment, which she described as her ‘last chance’
While reflecting on her journey, Hailey shared a throwback photo that showed her posing with her mom and sister on the day she started chemo on August 27
While reflecting on her journey, Hailey shared a throwback photo that showed her posing with her mom and sister on the day she started chemo on August 27.
‘I kept it private thinking I would be able to easily beat this,’ she recalled.
In late November, Hailey shared the exciting news that the treatment had worked and that she had gone into remission.
In late November, Hailey shared the exciting news that the treatment had worked and that she had gone into remission
‘There was a two per cent chance of this treatment working and it f**king did,’ she gushed.
‘I am in remission. To everyone that prayed, thought of me, sent positive energy my way, sent words of encouragement… Thank you.
‘I truly believe that the energy from everyone helped bring this miracle to life. It definitely gave me a lot of hope.’
But her road to recovery was long from over. She said she would have to get one more round of treatment followed by a stem cell transplant that was scheduled for after Christmas.
‘I will be out of commission for nearly a full year after the procedure,’ she added. ‘It’s still a long road ahead, but I’m so lucky to be able to ride it. I’m living in that two per cent baby.’
Days later, she uploaded a video of herself starting her final treatment; the 31-year-old clutched onto a friend’s hand as he helped her cover her eyes.
A nurse was seen injecting her stomach with a needle while Hailey’s hand trembled in fear.
‘Today marks exactly three months from when I found out I had cancer. And today was also the start of my last cycle of treatment to keep me in remission until I get my transplant later this month,’ she captioned it.
But her road to recovery was long from over. She said she would have to get one more round of treatment followed by a stem cell transplant that was scheduled for after Christmas
Days later, she uploaded a video of herself starting her final treatment; the 31-year-old clutched onto a friend’s hand as he helped her cover her eyes
She also posted a photo afterwards that showed her stomach covered in bruise. She captioned it with a needle emoji
‘There are so many hard parts left for me and my immediate support system. But I feel so confident that I can do this with everyone’s continued care and love coming my way.
‘I appreciate everyone so much and will continue to share all the milestones (good and bad). Love you all so much.’
She also posted a photo afterwards that showed her stomach covered in bruise. She captioned it with a needle emoji.
Despite battling cancer, Hailey did her best to stay positive, and days later, she posted a list of things that help her ‘feel good’
Despite battling cancer, Hailey did her best to stay positive, and days later, she posted a list of things that help her ‘feel good’ – which included getting to eat ‘whatever she wanted’ and not having to deal with ‘blackheads or zits.’
‘Some things I think about to help me feel good… I’m fighting for my life, not against cancer,’ she wrote.
‘I’m pretending statistics don’t matter. Some people get to be in the two per cent.
‘I’ve never been closer with my family. I have hit new depths with many of my friendships.
‘I get to eat whatever I want because gaining weight is a goal for me through chemo.
‘My skin has never been better because I have no natural oils, meaning no blackheads or zits.
‘I’ve always been a toque gal in the winter, so now I have an excuse to go buy a bunch of nice hats.’
In late December, she underwent the stem cell transplant; her brother was the one to donate his stem cells to her.
In late December, she underwent the stem cell transplant; her brother was the one to donate his stem cells to her
But after the procedure was complete, Hailey began suffering from severe stomach problems that left her unable to eat. As a result, she said she lost 25 pounds and ‘could barely even walk’
In late March, Hailey shared another update, and she said she was gearing up to undergo a bone marrow biopsy to determine whether or not she was cancer free
‘Thank you for being so selfless. You’re my hero,’ she gushed at the time. ‘Love you to the moon and back. Let’s hope this works.’
But after the procedure was complete, Hailey began suffering from severe stomach problems that left her unable to eat. As a result, she said she lost 25 pounds and ‘could barely even walk.’
‘Been a while since I’ve updated anyone on my health. I’ve had a couple scares since my transplant,’ she said in an update shared to her Stories in January.
‘The biggest one being unable to eat. I have been trying to push through it but I’ve lost 25 pounds.
‘I haven’t been updating because I didn’t know what was going on with my body for quite a while and could barely even walk when I left the hospital.’
She explained that doctors were going to ‘send a camera down to her stomach’ to try to see what was going on, and that she expected the procedure to be ‘super unpleasant.’
‘Otherwise, my entire life right now is watching TV in bed,’ she continued. ‘I’m not allowed outside because there are natural fungi in the air that are harmless to most but possibly deadly to me.
‘I could get very, very sick even from sitting on a park bench. Thank you everyone for checking in on me and keeping me in your thoughts. Lots of love.’
In late March, Hailey shared another update, and she revealed that they didn’t find ‘any disease in her stomach.’
She said she was put on a ‘heavy steroid’ that helped immensely, but that she had just completed the treatment and was feeling unwell again now that she was done taking it.
‘I’ve been off it for two days now and my energy is much lower (the steroid gave me “artificial energy”),’ she explained. ‘But I’m still eating and just starting to gain weight.’
The former reality star added that she was gearing up to undergo a bone marrow biopsy to determine whether or not she was cancer free.
She was also going to get a series of tests to see how her organs were functioning.
‘My next week is filled with eight appointments to get started on learning where my health is currently at,’ she wrote.
Hailey didn’t share any updates after that, however, she did post one final ominous message in late April in which she reflected on some of the ‘things she had learned’ while battling cancer
Her list included not taking time with her loved ones for granted and appreciating her body. She’s seen during her treatment
Hailey’s loved ones confirmed her passing via Instagram on Tuesday, writing, ‘It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life’
‘I’ll know whether I’m cancer free in the next two weeks. Which I am a bit hesitant to celebrate even if I am.
‘Because my cancer is known to come back. But that’s just some mental work I have to move through so I don’t have cancer controlling my life while I’m getting healthy again.’
But she did have some ‘exciting news’ to share – the stem cell transplant had been successful.
’99 per cent of the working cells in my body are currently my brother’s healthy cells,’ she shared.
‘Having transplanted cells accept its new host and the new host accepting the new cells usually comes with quite a few issues – organ failure being the most common.
’99 per cent is the best result you can get. I am very, very lucky yet again. Feeling like a two time miracle over here has me in tears.’
Hailey didn’t share any updates after that, however, she did post one final ominous message in late April.
She reflected on some of the ‘things she had learned’ while battling cancer, which including not taking time with her loved ones for granted and appreciating her body.
‘Things I’ve learned over the last seven months: You can be strong and vulnerable at the same time,’ she said.
‘Don’t think what you have done in your life isn’t enough. It is. Tell the people you love how much you love them and as often as you can.
‘Selflessness is the most incredible gift you can give someone, I wouldn’t be alive today without it.
‘Your body is an incredible machine. Thank it everyday for keeping you alive.
‘Sometimes life is unfair and you just have to accept it. If you’re feeling mentally or physically unwell, give yourself a break and know that even just taking a shower is an accomplishment.’
Hailey’s loved ones confirmed her passing via Instagram on Tuesday evening, writing, ‘It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.’
‘Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,’ the statement continued.
‘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.’
A statement added to her GoFundMe page following her passing explained a tragic reversal in her health after she thought she had beat the disease.
‘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 six weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast,’ it said.
‘Her first reaction was to say, “I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love.”‘
The GoFundMe continued, ‘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, and she loved doing so many simple things.’
