One Sweet Rose

She was truly an Earth-bound angel.

And now she is a real one.

Adalia Rose Williams, who fought for every second of her life and spread joy and love while doing it, died Jan. 12 at the ripe old age of 15.

Adalia suffered from Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, an extremely rare (thank God) disease that accelerates the aging process. The condition took her hair and her looks and – most recently – her hearing.

And then it took her life.

But it never stole her positive life outlook or resilient spirit despite having almost all of the cards stacked against her.

Instead of hiding away in the shadows waiting for an inevitable early death, Adalia became a YouTube star with more than 2.9 million followers. Since she began her YouTube videos in 2012, they were viewed more than 340 million times.

One video, which has Adalia offering makeup tips in her sweet childlike voice, is particularly mesmerizing as she seems entirely unselfconscious.

Yes, you heard that right: Makeup tips.

Adalia was an amazing person, a tiny someone who gave hope and inspiration to millions. While many able-bodied, “normal” people go around always feeling sorry for themselves, Adalia showed us what life is really about:

Living. Every. Day.

"She touched MILLIONS of people and left the biggest imprint in everyone that knew her," posted one of her followers. "She is no longer in pain and is now dancing away to all the music she loves."

It’s hard to imagine what Adalia’s short life was really like, but I also wonder what it was like for her parents. They – truly – are also angels. How difficult must it have been to watch their child go through what she went through, with the pain and loss that accompanied every passing year.

But they did not try to hide her away from the world. They did just the opposite: They put Adalia, and her heartbreaking story and beautiful spirit, on display on YouTube.

My hat is off to them.

Yes, they could have simply accepted Adalia’s dire prognosis and ended her life when she was diagnosed at three months old. They could have foreseen the challenges that lay ahead for Adalia – and for them – if they simply allowed her condition to play out.

Was that cruel? A case could possibly be made for that assertion.

Years of suffering, humiliation and embarrassment could have been avoided. Just a genetic mistake by Mother Nature, some would say. Let Adalia go, and let her parents get on with their lives – uncomplicated by the many medical and social issues they all would face.

But they did not.

They stayed by her side, set her up with YouTube and FaceBook accounts (she had another 12 million followers on FB) and Adalia spent her days showing us what a loving, warrior spirit she possessed.

So goodbye, Adalia. Wish I’d gotten to know you while you were here.

But your beautiful spirit, that washed over so many, will never be forgotten.