Mum 'feels lost' after death of 'amazing' daughter aged 22

Leah Smith, a TikTok star from Liverpool who died aged 22
-Credit: (Image: Leah Smith/Instagram)


The mum of a TikTok star who died from a rare illness has paid tribute to her daughter. Leah Smith, 22, from Woolton, suffered from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects the bones and soft tissue. The condition mainly affects children and young people, with most cases diagnosed in people aged 10 to 20.

Leah complained of back ache for a ten month period from 2018 but never imagined she had cancer until her formal diagnosis in October 2019. Speaking a year later, Leah said: "I had really bad back pains for 10 months. It was constant then I lost all the feeling in my left leg and I knew something was most definitely wrong."

Leah set up a TikTok account, posting updates about her condition. She also created comedy sketches and dances which saw her gain thousands of followers. In a video posted on March 11 2024, her boyfriend announced that Leah had died.

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In an interview with the BBC this week, Leah’s mum Jenny said she has found it difficult since her daughter’s death. Jenny said: "It's learning to navigate life without her.

"She was the boss and we are all a bit lost without our boss but I am trying. All I feel when I think about Leah is amazed and I have this burning ball inside of just overwhelming pride."

Leah documented her journey on social media
Leah documented her journey on social media -Credit:Leah Smith

Jenny, along with her son Liam and other family members, have set up a not-for-profit community interest company called Leah's Little Sunflowers. The aim of the organisation is to help other families with cancer and it is hoped they will provide counselling sessions in the future.

Jenny said: "Whatever spirit she had - to be the person she was - is still alive and is still burning and we are keeping it going. This community company is Leah, every single bit of it. It feels scary but we've done it. Everything that we do, it's all Leah's ideas."

Leah's Little Sunflowers is aiming to raise up to £20,000 to purchase an adapted caravan, based in Southport, for families who are dealing with cancer or other serious illnesses to holiday in. Jenny said: "Getting away from it all is the best thing we did as a family when we found out Leah was going to die."

Leah Smith's yellow coffin being carried into All Souls Church
Leah Smith's yellow coffin being carried into All Souls Church -Credit:Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo

One of Leah’s followers called Macey, from Liverpool shop Peonies and Cream, has created a gold dress in her honour. This has been showcased to fashion designers on a catwalk in The Metquarter shopping centre. Jenny said: "Macey said all the reflections off the glass on the sunflower stems are a reflection of Leah's positivity, it's a beautiful dress".

Leah’s final Facebook post, posted a month before her death, showed that Leah had begun paying for a holiday with Andrew. She said the optimism for the trip was the “only thing” getting her through the difficulties of her illness. The holiday would have taken place close to her birthday on July 22.

Leah's funeral took place in March of this year at All Souls Church in Allerton. Mourners were invited to wear yellow to the funeral service in tribute to Leah, who had asked people to wear the colour and "be happy".