A family is enduring an unimaginable tragedy.

Joules Smith, a vibrant young girl who transformed her terminal brain tumor diagnosis into a powerful movement of fundraising through dance, has tragically passed away at the tender age of 6 years old.

“Sadly, in the early hours of Monday morning [Dec. 9],” her father Joe Smith shared in a heartfelt Dec. 11 Instagram video, “our precious little dancing queen left us while lying between me and [my wife] Elisha in our bed.”

Earlier in the year, Joules was diagnosed with inoperable diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumor located in the brain stem, as reported by DIPG.org. Despite her grave diagnosis, she utilized her illness as a platform to spread joy and raise awareness about her rare cancer, captivating millions and garnering thousands of supporters on TikTok and Instagram through her beloved “Dance for Joules” videos.

“Joules has been a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals, and I am incredibly proud to be her father, as is Elisha, her mother,” Joe expressed. “We find immense comfort in knowing that she has inspired and touched the lives of so many people across the globe.”