Tributes are pouring in for young cancer warrior, Creashy Maart, who passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, 9 July, at the age of 19.

Creashy, who was from Mitchells Plain, inspired thousands of South Africans under the social media banner “Pray for Creashy”.

The young woman struggled with her health her entire life. She was diagnosed with severe chronic lung disease at just two weeks old.

In her matric year in 2025, her health deteriorated severely, requiring her to attend school with an oxygen backpack before being hospitalised.

She then received a double lung transplant, but the heavy immunosuppressant medication required to prevent her body from rejecting her new lungs accidentally triggered a rare, aggressive cancer called Kaposi sarcoma.

In May this year, Creashy received devastating news from her doctors that treatment options were exhausted, and that the only thing they could do for her was make her as comfortable as possible.

Creashy’s story became widely known after she gave television and radio interviews, fulfilling one of her dreams of sharing her story to inspire others.

A Back-A-Buddy account was also started to help her family pay medical expenses.

The Kids-Can Cancer Foundation announced her passing on Facebook earlier today.

“Creashy touched the lives of countless people with her extraordinary courage, kindness, and selflessness. Even while facing unimaginable challenges, she continued to inspire others with her smile, her strength, and her unwavering hope. Her light reached far beyond her own journey and will continue to shine in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her story.”