The online traveler community is engulfed in a collective grief, mourning the loss of one of their adventurous companions. Vanessa Konopka, a German social media sensation who shared her exhilarating life on Boracay Island, Philippines, under the moniker @happinesscrossing, passed away on March 7th due to complications from liver damage and pneumonia. Her boyfriend, Fernando, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post on the same day. At just 28 years old, she bid farewell to this world prematurely.
"Vanessa left us early on the morning of March 7th," Fernando wrote with deep sorrow. "She cherished her connections with each one of you and had an inexpressible love for the Philippines. I implore everyone to keep her in your prayers and may God bring comfort to her loved ones. I trust in God, knowing that He is with Vanessa and that He is always with us." Fernando, who traveled extensively with Vanessa in the Philippines, dedicated a poignant tribute to his late girlfriend in his post: "If you're reading this somewhere, please accept my deepest gratitude for teaching me to cherish myself regardless of what others think. She taught me self-love and how to pursue dreams! I will forever love you, and perhaps we'll reunite in another world."
Months have passed since Vanessa's passing, with her last social media post dating back to January this year. In that post, she recounted the challenging months she spent in a hospital in the Philippines while residing with Fernando. "Sadness, anxiety, pain," Vanessa narrated her patient experience in a video, "until one day, this Filipino doctor walked into my room and told me how much his wife loved my videos, asking if we could talk on the phone." The deceased 28-year-old also shared clips of her conversations with her fans, describing how they brought light to her dark hospital days. "Thank you all, and let's keep praying," she added.
During Vanessa's treatment, Fernando set up a GoFundMe fundraising page for her and himself, mentioning that Vanessa had been hospitalized since December of the previous year, leaving her "extremely weak, unable to eat, walk, or even speak properly" due to her illness. Prior to her hospitalization, Vanessa had been battling the disease for several months and sent a message to her fans during those trying times. "This period has made me realize the importance of health," she wrote in an Instagram post in June of last year, "and how fortunate we are to be alive and healthy."
