Supporting Zuza Beine’s Family Following Her Death

It's been over 11 years since I first shared a GoFundMe for Zuza and her family, when at just 3 years old, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). What followed was an 11-year battle marked by moments of hope, heartbreak, and unimaginable courage. Zuza endured multiple relapses, underwent three grueling bone marrow transplants, and when those failed, bravely pursued clinical trials in search of a cure. Over those years, we watched Zuza rise into the hearts of over 2 million people as she openly shared her journey across TikTok, Instagram, and later as a featured Glow House star. She captured the world through her "Get Ready With Me" videos and "Procedure Day" reels - always with grace, humor, and a quiet fierceness that cancer could never touch. Her presence was radiant, her gratitude for life unwavering, even as her body waged war inside her. Tragically, despite every effort, the cure we so desperately prayed for never came and we lost her the morning of Monday, September 22. Her parents, Dagmara and Ryan, and her brother, Fin, are left broken following an 11-year battle to keep her alive.

As if this heartbreak weren't enough, just days before Zuza entered home hospice, Dagmara's younger brother Olaf passed away unexpectedly - a devastating blow to a family already holding too much. Olaf leaves behind his wife, Lauren, and their two young children. In an effort to help support Lauren and her children, with news of Zuza's passing, Dagmara and Ryan selflessly directed all memorials to be sent to Lauren; the result- thousands in donations poured through Zuza's platform, a true testament of her beauty and reach.

As Zuza's godmother and a close friend of the Beine family, I've had a front-row seat to the years of sacrifice Dagmara and Ryan have made to keep their daughter alive. An 11-year battle with cancer doesn't just leave emotional scars - it depletes resources, savings, and stability. l've seen the financial toll - extended hospital stays, time away from work, and the immense responsibility of also caring for Dagmara's parents, who moved in over a decade ago to support the family through this journey. They now find themselves not only grappling with the reality of insurmountable loss, but also in the position of struggling to rebuild some semblance of financial stability.

The emotional weight this family now carries is unimaginable. Today, I'm reaching out with a humble ask: to offer whatever financial support you can to help lift Zuza's family in their time of deepest grief. Every contribution will help ease the burden of what lies ahead - funeral costs, time away from work, and the long road to healing. If you prefer to donate directly to the family, you can do so through Venmo @Dagmara-Beine

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

With gratitude,

Ellen Menefee

Godmother to Zuza

Friend of the Beine family