Entertainment
Healthcare influencer and NurseLifeRN star Ebi Porbeni dies after leukaemia battle
NurseLifeRN star Ebi Porbeni has died (Picture:First admission/Instagram)
Healthcare influencer Ebi Porbeni – known online as Ebi Eats and NurseLifeRN – has died after a battle with leukaemia.
Porbeni was a popular creator in the healthcare industry, sharing the ins and outs of his life as an ICU nurse at the University of California, Los Angeles.
He had a following of more than 1.2million on Instagram, although both of his accounts have been set to private in the wake of his death. He also shared his experiences on his popular podcast NurseSpeak.
Porbeni shared his leukaemia diagnosis last year, and created a fundraiser for his medical costs, which has since raised more than $250,000 (£182,000).
He wrote at the time: ‘First I want to thank you guys for all the love and support after my IG post on the 16th.
‘My Leukemia diagnoses was something I was a little nervous to share but it felt odd to keep it away from a community that I feel so close to.
‘I was also hesitant to make a gofundme because I have no idea how much this hospital stay or subsequent medical care will but its been encouraging to hear from so many of you encouraging me to do so.
Tributes have been pouring in for the late influencer (Picture: @nurse.blake/Instagram)
‘Prior to this, I considered my self a pretty healthy person so picking a robust insurance plan as always been more of a second thought (*regrets*). So the goal I set is really just a random guess.
‘Whatever is amount donated will go towards medical expenses and keeping things running with the nurselifern media company as I take some time off over the next few weeks or months to recuperate. I appreciate you guys.’
Leukaemia is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.
Tributes have been flooding in for Porbeni after the news, with his fellow healthcare influencer Nurse Blake sharing a statement from his social media coordinator Emily on Instagram.
It read: ‘With heavy hearts we are sad to share Ebi passed away Tuesday afternoon surrounded by family and friends. One thing we know is the positive impact the @NurseLifeRN community has had on his life.
‘His family request that we honor his privacy’.
Blake added: ‘Thank you Ebi for all you’ve done for me and the whole nursing community. Rest in power! I [heart emoji] you man.’
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Another healthcare influencer, Nurse Kelsey, added on Twitter: ‘I…I have no words. Ebi, thank you for the community you built. And all of the Oscar photos & videos. You will be dearly, dearly missed.’
One fan of Porbeni’s wrote: ‘RIP @ebi_eats. thank you for giving us laughs when at times we thought we couldn’t,’ while another added: ‘Man this breaks my heart. Ebi brought so much laughter and joy to the nursing community. I hope I can be half the positive influence that he was someday.’
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