Influencer Paloma Bonilla has died just days after winning a gruelling 10-year legal battle over the medical negligence that left her paralysed.
Family members confirmed that the 38-year-old mother of one passed away on Wednesday (22 Apr) following a sudden heart attack.
Paloma became a symbol of resilience for millions after a botched spinal operation left her paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair in 2013, as reported by Need To Know.
READ MORE: I have a SUN allergy – just 15 SECONDS outside leaves me in agonising pain
The activist spent years campaigning for accountability against the surgeon involved, orthopaedic specialist Fredis Reyes, after she was allegedly operated on using materials without her consent.
Earlier this month, Paloma shared a poignant final video expressing her “exhaustion” after accepting a settlement of £18,626 (DOP 1.5 million).
She described the court-mandated compensation as “offensive and absurd” relative to her life-changing injuries, but stated she accepted it simply to end the “emotional and physical drain” of the process.
The influencer, known for her popular Instagram news account ‘De Todo un Poco’, was widely praised by fans for her unwavering positivity despite her deteriorating physical health.
In an official statement, her family described her as a “person full of light, love, and kindness” whose legacy would remain a symbol of strength for the Dominican Republic.
They thanked supporters for their “demonstrations of support, solidarity and respect” and asked for prayers “for her eternal rest and for the strength of the entire family in the face of this irreparable loss”.
They ended with the words: “Rest in peace, Paloma.”
The influencer is survived by her partner, Jochy Guzmán, and her 19-year-old daughter, Mía, who had recently spoken publicly about the trauma of her mother’s condition.
Tributes have poured in from across the Spanish-speaking world, with fellow creators and activists hailing her as a “fortress in human form” who fought until her final days.
READ MORE: Girl, 6, has sight restored through ‘life-changing’ first of it’s kind gene therapy
