“Be Grateful for the Little Things”: The Inspiring Story of Zuza Beine’s Radiant Life

“Be grateful for the little things. The little things are everything.” This was the powerful final message from Zuza Beine, a 14-year-old girl whose life, though marked by struggle, became one of the most inspiring stories of courage you will ever read. For 11 years, she battled an aggressive cancer, but instead of focusing on her pain, she chose to share her joy, teaching millions of people on social media about the profound power of gratitude.

A Battle Begun With Bravery

Zuza’s world changed just before her fourth birthday. A persistent fever and easy bruising led to the diagnosis every parent dreads: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive cancer of the blood. As her mother recalls the air leaving the room, 3-year-old Zuza’s response set the tone for her entire life: “Don’t cry, Mommy. I’m brave.”

And she truly was. For the next 11 years, the hospital became a second home. She endured what most adults could not: five separate relapses, grueling chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant. But Zuza refused to let her illness dim her light. She famously wore tiaras to her chemo sessions, decorated her IV pole with stickers, and treated her hospital gowns like art projects. She was, as doctors called her, “a light in the oncology wing.”

A Platform for Joy

At age 13, Zuza decided to share her journey. She started TikTok and Instagram accounts (@zuzas_way_to_healing) not to ask for sympathy, but to show the world that joy and fear could coexist. Her first video said it all: “Hi! I’m Zuza. I have cancer — but I also have joy.”

Her honesty was raw. She showed the tubes, the scars, and the transfusions. But she also shared the beautiful moments: sunsets from her hospital window, dance parties with her nurses, and her passion for painting rainbows. She found joy in simple things, a radiant spirit that we often only see in young children or playful animals, and she shared it selflessly. She reminded her thousands of followers that life, even a hard one, was full of beauty.

Her Final, Powerful Lesson

As Zuza neared her 14th birthday, her condition worsened. Surrounded by her family, her strength faded, but her spirit never did. From her hospital bed, she recorded her final, most powerful message, whispering to her followers: “Be grateful for the little things. The little things are everything.”

Zuza passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025. The outpouring of love was immense, as thousands of strangers shared stories of how her videos had given them hope. Her parents now continue her pages, transforming them into a legacy of support for other families facing pediatric cancer.

Zuza’s journey wasn’t defined by leukemia; it was defined by how she lived with it. She taught us that a life isn’t measured in years, but in joy, love, and purpose. She found beauty in every single breath and, in doing so, became a bright, shining rainbow for a world in desperate need of her light.