Jalene Salinas, the young girl who was granted her final wish of dancing with Taylor Swift to her hit single “Shake It Off,” has died at the age of just 4-years-old.
The young Swift fan was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, a malignant brain tumor, last year when she was just 3-years-old and went through a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation over the course of the last ten months of her life, according to KENS-5 News.
The hashtag #ShakeItOffJalene went viral on Twitter after supporters learned of the little girl’s final wish on her bucket list. Swift was subsequently notified while out of the country and eventually picked up a phone and called Jalene and her mother via FaceTime. During the phone call, which Hollywood Life reported to have lasted 20 minutes, T-Swift told her that she was “so sorry” that she was having a bad night, but she was “so happy” to talk to her.
A statement on Jalene’s Facebook page, which is titled “Jalene’s Journey,” read:
On March 15, 2015 Jalene gained her beautiful angel wings. She fought all the way to the end. She beat Cancer defying the hours and days we were told. She went to be with our Lord in his time. Jalene was a true princess and I made sure to have her glass slippers by her side. I have to say that Jalene loved her siblings and at the end she was waiting for her little brother to say goodbye before taking her last breath. She was dressed beautifully. I did take pictures 10 mins after her passing. The ONLY reason I am choosing to share a photo is because everyone can simply agree on what a great infectionest smile Jalene had. So with in the first 10 of her passing, as I sat by her side, I looked up and there she was smiling at me. Jalene’s smile seemed to grow as time was passing by and we were waiting for her to be picked up. Her smile comforted my heart and let me know that she is flying high free of pain and sickness!!!”
Team Jalene thank you for being a part of her journey. This is not over because Jalene Will live on in the heart of everyone. We will continue to spread her kind hearted nature. Her ability to care for others. Please in Jalene’s name today especially but always spread her smile to the ones that don’t have a smile on their face. Her legacy will continue alway and forever….
What are your thoughts on the passing of Swift’s little fan at such a young age?
