Sydney Towle was 23 years old when she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer that typically affects people over the age of 50. What followed was three years of treatments and challenges most people, especially those in their twenties, will never face. Across her vibrant social media, Syd met all of it with energy, grace, and an openness to whatever came next. She continued to travel, model at Miami Swim Week, attend Coachella with her friends, and move to New York, because “life is short”. In sharing her journey and attitude so candidly with over a million followers, she left us with inspiring lessons about living.
Be Kind
Treat people with kindness always, you never know what they are going through. When asked in an interview what she would say in her last video, Syd answered, “I think I would just remind people, what I’ve said to you already, is to treat people with kindness.” She faced cruelty online, including conspiracy theories that claimed she was faking her illness. Rather than withdrawing, she responded with grace, “If you could spread, like, a little bit of kindness, a little bit of positivity goes such a long way for someone else, and it could make their day, their week. That’s the thing that I would always say.” She also spoke openly about invisible illnesses, reminding us that you never know what someone is carrying.
Stay Positive
“People always ask why I’m so positive,” Sydney said in a TikTok post. “Why would I not envision the best-case scenario, the best way of things working out?” This mindset was the backbone of Syd’s life. Even when her cancer recurrence meant relocating from the West Coast to New York she chose to see it differently. “I’ve always wanted to live in New York City, and life is short, as I’m constantly reminded.” And when things got truly hard she shared, “Go get a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, watch your favourite movie, remember that life is good and bad things happen sometimes but that doesn’t make it a bad life.” Sydney never pretended things were easy. She just refused to let the hard things overtake the good in her life.
Share Your Story: It May Change Someone’s Life
Sydney began sharing her story the day she was diagnosed and never stopped. She said it “always seems to help people feel less alone, like they’re not the only ones going through something very challenging.” The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation remembered her as someone who “could have stayed isolated in her experience, but she invited the world in, so no one had to be alone in their struggles.” The organization has been able to provide resources and help many others thanks to Sydney’s advocacy. Syd showed us that sharing your story is not just for you, it is for everyone who hears it and realizes they are not alone.
Live in the Moment
Syd did not let her diagnosis shrink any part of her life. When her oncologist told her she was at the end of her rope, suggesting that she should enter end of life care, she wrote from her hospital bed, “I told him no. My rope is not finished yet. I am tying more on with the love of my family and friends and we will move on. Continuing to advocate for myself and for others who aren’t able to. Continuing to find solutions that are outside of the box and that may not seem like the straight, or even right, path forward. Because you never know unless you try.” She continued with her plans to walk in a Miami Swim Week show a few days after. When she attended the Coachella music festival in April 2026 she said simply, “It just keeps getting better!” After Syd’s passing her brother Austin left us with “Don’t give up hope, no matter what. She never did. Not literally until she physically, mentally, emotionally, everything, couldn’t anymore.”
Learn to See the Beauty and Resilience in Yourself
Sydney was open about the self consciousness that came with her treatments. When she shared photos of the pump on her stomach, she wrote honestly about having felt “self-conscious” and then chose to reframe it. “Now I am more like YAAAA I got a pump! And it’s saving my life! And could save a lot of other people’s! So pump = baddie addie addie.” That shift from shame to pride is something so many of us can learn from.
In a later post alongside photos of herself in a swimsuit she wrote, “I have only recently started seeing the resilience and beauty in this body. Scars that remind me of how far I’ve come. And I’m reminded that dreams only end when you allow them to.” Syd taught us that our bodies are not something to be ashamed of. They hold the story of everything we have lived through. And that the way we see ourselves has the power to change everything.
Sydney Towle passed away on August 5, 2026, at 26 years old. The lessons she left behind are not about cancer. They are about how to live with kindness, positivity, openness, and an appreciation for every moment, the good and bad. We are so grateful for all the light she shined and shared with the world.
Continuing Syd’s Legacy
Syd carried one phrase with her everywhere: “Just keep swimming.” It became the heart of her story and a steady message of hope for the people who followed her. During her clinical trial, she shared, “I have hope that I can do this. Every day it’s just me taking it day by day. Just keep swimming. I’m just happy to be here.”
That message now lives on through two campaigns Syd helped inspire. She collaborated with Sleepy Saturday on a “Just Keep Swimming” pajama collection, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. In tribute to Syd, Little Words Project has partnered with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and Sydney’s family to release two bracelets, “Happy To Be Here” and “Keep Swimming.” Each one is a way to carry her words with you and to support the community she cared about.
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation continues to reach and support others because of the story Syd chose to share. Wearing her words, or passing them to someone who needs them, carries the hope she spread to more people.
Losing someone like Syd, whether you followed her for years or found her today, can stir up real grief. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call, text, or chat 988 for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor, available 24/7.
