The tragic passing of Mikayla Raines, a renowned fox rescue activist and YouTube sensation, has left the world in deep mourning. Her devoted husband, Ethan, broke the heart-wrenching news in an emotional Instagram video on June 23rd, revealing that the 29-year-old founder of Save a Fox had taken her own life "a couple of days ago."
"Unable to bear the overwhelming emotions any longer, she chose to end her life," Ethan shared, his voice trembling with sorrow. He further emphasized that her demise marked "the greatest loss of my life."
Ethan recounted the harrowing moment when he had to administer CPR to his beloved wife for an agonizing 15 minutes until emergency responders arrived and paramedics tried in vain to revive her. He also revealed that their daughter, Freya, was absolutely devastated by the loss of her mother.
"We have experienced a loss beyond imagination," Ethan captioned the video. "Mikayla was undeniably the most extraordinary and inspiring person I've ever known. Her absence leaves a void in everything. I feel shattered."
"Yet, I vow to carry on her dream, and I hope to garner your support as we strive to make a positive impact in her honor," he added with resolve.
In the video, Ethan painted a vivid picture of Mikayla, describing her as "one of the most selfless individuals I've ever encountered." Despite her young age of 20 when she founded her Minnesota-based nonprofit in 2017, her dedication to animals knew no bounds.
"She was on the autism spectrum, which made her life incredibly challenging, but it also赋予了她超凡的专注力, particularly towards animals," Ethan said, his voice choked with emotion. He also noted that her exceptional sensitivity to everything was a double-edged sword – while it granted her boundless empathy for those in her care, it also made her highly susceptible to negative emotions.
Ethan revealed that in recent years, Mikayla and her animal rescue organization had been targets of an "online bullying campaign" orchestrated by people she knew, including those working at other animal sanctuaries. This relentless harassment "hurt her deeply," and although she initially fought through it, the situation worsened in recent months as even those she considered close friends turned against her.
"[Mikayla] felt as though the entire world had betrayed her," Ethan lamented. "She couldn't endure the pain any longer. And it tears my heart apart to think that such a selfless soul, who devoted her life to animals, was subjected to so much negativity."
Ethan concluded his video with a poignant message of hope, urging anyone feeling "lost and hopeless" to reach out for help. He emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on our loved ones, recognizing the warning signs, and taking action before it's too late. And he pledged to honor Mikayla's legacy by continuing her work to save foxes.
