Social media star, 19, dies after emergency liver transplant

Brazilian influencer Maria Sofia Valim has died aged 19 after undergoing an emergency liver transplant.

Her father Vitor Valim shared the heartbreaking news with the social media star's followers on Saturday, 9 December after her liver transplant on 5 December.

Vitor, who is the mayor of the municipality of state Caucaia in Ceará in the north east of Brazil, posted on Instagram with an emotional announcement of his daughter's unexpected passing.

The statement in Brazilian translates as: "It is with the deepest pain and sadness that I inform everyone of the passing of my beloved daughter Sofia.

"Unfortunately, her body did not survive. I thank everyone for the prayers and affection dedicated to me and my family in this moment of extreme suffering."

Vitor also added to her followers: "I would like to ask for everyone's understanding at this time of so much pain. Wake and burial ceremonies will be limited to family only."

Sofia had around 100,000 followers on Instagram, and was an aspiring lawyer who shared posts about travel, exercising at the gym, her skincare routine and the brands she liked to buy.

In a recent post from November, she was shown smiling at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert in Brazil.

Her father had previously posted on social media on 5 December to share news of her liver transplant operation, writing: "After following the legal procedures and joining the liver transplant queue, Sofia was able to find a donor due to the urgency of her case.

"This morning a compatible donor was found and the surgery was carried out successfully. However, the next 48 hours will still be observation so that we can know if Sofia’s body will accept the new organ."

Sofia's mother Gaída Dias also shared a tribute to her daughter, which translates as: "You always being light! Every day of my life, I will look up to the sky, to see it shining and interceding for us."

Gaída also added that Sofia's organs had been donated to other patients waiting for transplants.

She wrote: "Sofia taught and left us with multiple assignments. One of them is to support the cause of organ donation. A single donor can save some lives. Having had this chance was an exciting and very special moment in our family."

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