Remember that sweet little girl who got to “marry” Justin Bieber ? Avalanna Routh, who stole the hearts of just about everyone who knew her, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 6. The LA Times reports that upon hearing of her death, Bieber tweeted, “just got the worst news ever. one of the greatest spirits i have ever known is gone. please pray for her family and for her. RIP Avalanna. i love you.”
Avalanna died of a “rare and very aggressive cancer,” according to The LA Times. The little girl was known for her vivacious and upbeat personality, even in the midst of her terminal illness. Avalanna earned the nickname “Mrs. Bieber” when staff at the Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center staged a pretend wedding for Avalanna to Justin Bieber. The party included flowers, a wedding cake and singer, and a red shirt for Avalanna that read “Future Mrs. Bieber.” The celebrity spent an evening with Avalanna for Valentine’s Day, where they played board games and signed autographs for each other. Today.com reports that Bieber tweeted after their date: “That was one of the best things I have ever done. She was AWESOME. Feeling really inspired right now.”
Avalanna inspired more than just Justin Bieber. “She was one of the most vivacious, outgoing, engaging, precocious kids I’ve ever known,” said Dr. Charles Roberts, a pediatric oncologist who worked at Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
The following Tweet report, later confirmed by several media outlets, announced her death on Wednesday: “Our darling Avalanna went to Heaven this morning. Oh Avalanna, the brightest star — you took our hearts with you, our greatest Love.”
