Social media influencer Sara Bennett has shared the news of her own passing at the age of 39, nearly three years after receiving a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The mother of two, known for her candid documentation of life with the progressive condition, passed away this week.
A Life and Legacy Documented Online
Sara Bennett amassed a following of over 101,000 people on Instagram under her brand, Ananda Pivot. She initially launched her account in 2020, focusing on home organisation and styling advice. However, her content took a profound turn in mid-2023 when she publicly revealed her ALS diagnosis.
On Tuesday, a final post was shared from her official account, confirming her death. The post featured a smiling photograph of Bennett with a text overlay that read, 'In love memory of Sarah Elizabeth Bennett.' The poignant caption had been written by Bennett herself before she died.
A Final Message of Gratitude and Peace
In her pre-written farewell, Bennett expressed a complex mix of emotions. She stated she was relieved she did not die 'suddenly' and was able to complete her bucket list, despite acknowledging her suffering. 'I am not in pain, or tired. I can laugh, talk and I can move,' she wrote, reflecting on her final months.
'Reflecting in my last few months of my life, I am glad I didn't go suddenly even WITH the suffering. I finished my list,' the message continued. She concluded with a note of peace and connection to nature: 'Even if you don't believe in any thing, I am feeding the earth and my tree. I loved this life, and am grateful for the time.'
The Long Road to a Diagnosis
Bennett's journey to her ALS diagnosis was lengthy and challenging. In a video shared in 2023, she recounted that her first symptom appeared in March 2022 as an unexplained weakness in her right hand, which prevented her from closing a binder clip while working as a social studies teacher.
Her symptoms progressed, leading to months of medical investigations. Doctors initially suspected cervical myelopathy, a spinal cord compression, and she underwent spinal surgery in September 2022. When her condition continued to deteriorate after the operation, it became clear this was not the correct diagnosis.
Bennett revealed she was 'bounced around' between hospitals and consulted more than 15 specialists before finally receiving the official diagnosis of ALS in March 2023. She explained the disease's impact was already widespread, affecting her hands, arms, walking, breathing, and speech.
'ALS is a fatal disease... There's no cure for this disease,' she told her followers at the time, adding that she had lost the use of her right hand and her left hand was rapidly losing function.
Choosing to Pivot and Educate
Faced with the devastating prognosis, Bennett made a conscious decision to use her platform for education and positivity. She admitted to initially considering deleting her Instagram but decided against it. 'That would just be one more thing this disease was taking from me,' she wrote in March 2024.
Instead, she pivoted, giving birth to the 'Ananda Pivot' brand. 'I'm a teacher, my plan is to educate you,' she said of her new mission. She encouraged her followers to find purpose even in the most difficult circumstances, writing, 'Moving forward is not a choice, but moving forward in positivity... is a choice.'
Her authentic and brave documentation of the realities of ALS provided support and awareness to thousands, leaving behind a powerful digital legacy of resilience in the face of terminal illness.
