Cancer is never an easy diagnosis. For a parent, having their child diagnosed is an absolute nightmare. In a worst-case scenario, TikTok creator Joe Smith’s little girl was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor at just 6 years old. Seven months later, she passed away. Before she died, Joules Smith became a TikTok sensation herself, dancing with her dad on the platform to raise awareness for child brain cancers. This is her story.
TikTok Star Joules Smith Dies at 6 Years Old
TikTok sensation Joules Smith has tragically passed away at the tender age of 6, after battling a rare and aggressive brain tumor. Her father, Joe, confirmed the devastating news, which he took to social media to share the heartbreaking update on December 12. In his post, Joe expressed his profound grief, stating, “Our little dancing queen passed away in the early hours of [December 9].” He explained that this was the reason for his absence on the platform in the last few weeks. He said that the family had been devoting every moment to Joules, their “beautiful princess,” in her final days. Joe explained that Joules passed in bed lying between both her parents, wrapped tightly in their arms.
The Diagnosis
The young star’s life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) at just 6 years of age. DIPG is a type of brain tumor typically found in the brainstem and known to affect children between the ages of 5 and 7. Tragically, DIPG is considered incurable and carries a devastating prognosis. Joe mentioned in his video that there have been no survivors, at least in the UK.
A Parent’s Intuition
Joe explained that he and his wife noticed one day that their energetic little girl seemed off in some way. He did not go into details about her symptoms, but he said that they took her to see the doctors. They were first told that nothing seemed to be wrong and that they had nothing to worry about. Parents’ intuition told them that something wasn’t right, so they went back the next day. That is when they received the devastating news that their precious little girl had a brain tumor. They were sent to a specialist immediately, who delivered the even more devastating news that Joules didn’t just have a brain tumor, but the deadliest kind. Joules was given only 9 months to live when diagnosed. Despite the grim outlook, her family and supporters rallied around her, raising over £96,000 through a GoFundMe page as they sought to raise awareness for childhood cancer.
Dance With Joules
Joe did not want his daughter’s life to be without meaning or for her to slip away before she had the chance to make the positive impact that he knew she would have one day in her future. For this, he started dancing with his daughter on TikTok. Joules and her father garnered widespread attention on social media, with their “dance for Joules” campaign serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Thousands of people joined in, showing their support by sharing videos of themselves dancing with the hashtag #DanceForJoules, expressing solidarity and love for Joules and her family. Joe affectionately referred to his daughter as an “absolute inspiration to everyone,” and spoke of the comfort he found in knowing that she had touched the lives of countless individuals across the world.
“[She] has been an absolute inspiration to everyone, and I’m so proud to be her dad, as is her mom,” he said in his video. “We take so much comfort in knowing she inspired and touched the lives of so many people from around the world…If you’re going to do anything, please let’s carry on dancing for our beautiful little Joules because I know she will still be dancing.”
Joules’ Life and Legacy
Despite the overwhelming sadness, Joules’ legacy continues to shine brightly, as her spirit lives on through the community that rallied around her. Joe and his family have set the date for Joules’ “send-off” at The Garden of Eden Crematorium in Kent, England, where they plan to honor her in a heartfelt and meaningful ceremony. They have invited anyone and everyone who wishes to join them in honoring Joules’ life. Though you will be welcomed wearing black, Joe and his wife have actually requested that everyone wear pink and blue for “Stitch and Angel colors”.
An Outpouring of Support
In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, the outpouring of support and love for Joules and her family serves as a testament to the impact she made in her short but precious life. Her story has touched the hearts of many and serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of love and solidarity. People are continuing to post Dance For Joules videos on TikTok as a tribute to the little girl. Many have also donated to her cause, raising more money for childhood cancers. The Smith family hope that, in their tragedy, money for more research into childhood and brain cancers can be done to hopefully spare other families the pain that they have had to endure.
In Memory of Joules
In remembrance of Joules, her family has requested that individuals continue to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer by donating to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity—an enduring legacy and a poignant way to honor the memory of a remarkable young girl who captured the hearts of so many. Joules’ inspiring and courageous spirit will not be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to shine as a beacon of hope in the fight against childhood cancer.
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