- Lauren Hoeve spent years trying to be euthanised after COVID caused delays
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An autistic Dutch woman who suffered with ME shared a harrowing post before being euthanised at home.
Lauren Hoeve, from the Netherlands, was diagnosed with ME, which is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2019.
In the past five years, the former YouTuber has battled extreme exhaustion which left her bed-bound.
The book blogger also began to experience post-exertional malaise (PEM), where she would struggle with extreme nausea, pain and fatigue – which she described as ‘absolute torture’ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In 2022, Lauren – who was also diagnosed with autism and ADHD – began documenting her journey to euthanasia in 2022. Assisted death has been legal in the Netherlands for the past 22 years.

Pictured: Lauren Hoeve’s parents confirmed she passed away peacefully last Saturday after a four year battle with ME
On her blog ‘Brain Fog’, Lauren explained how her GP told her he respected her wish to be euthanised but could not do it himself as a result of her psychological conditions.
After this, Lauren was put on a waiting list for an appointment with an euthanasia specialist, which took longer than usual due to the pandemic.
In April 2023, she met with several doctors who concluded she was ‘mentally competent’ of making the decision to be euthanised.
Earlier this month, Lauren told her 7,800 X followers: ‘My last day will be on Saturday, January 27th. The euthanasia will happen between 1:30 and 2:30pm.’
She wrote on her blog: ‘I chose to make the date and time public because you have all been so excited for this moment with me. I know from experience how supportive it can be to know when it is happening, so that you can reflect on it for a moment or light a candle if you wish.’
On 27 January, Lauren – who passed away at home – signed off her X account by sharing a meme with her followers.
She wrote: ‘This will be my last tweet. Thanks for the love, everyone. I’m going to rest a bit more and be with my loved ones. Enjoy a last morbid meme from me.’
She then posted a meme featuring a toddler wearing a sunglasses and giving a thumbs up to the camera as a doctor smiles beside them.

Lauren thanked her 7,800 X followers for the love they’d shown her and shared this ‘morbid’ meme

Lauren Hoeve (pictured), from the Netherlands , was diagnosed with ME, which is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2019.
Lauren’s post has been seen by over 1.5m X users and struck a chord with followers.
One replied: ‘Thank you for sharing your journey to this farewell. And for you the beginning of peace that you long for.’
‘Have a beautiful last few hours,’ another added.
A third said: ‘I think of you and the people around you and wish you beautiful last moments.’
‘Have a few loving last hours,’ a fourth said. ‘Thank you again for everything you have done for our community.’
‘May you find your peace,’ a fifth wrote.
An update on her website confirmed: ‘Lauren passed away peacefully at 1.55 pm in the presence of her parents Leonie and Peter and her best friend Lau.
‘We would like to thank you for your compassion and support. Leonie, Peter and Lau.’
In her final blog post, Lauren shared some advice to her followers that she ‘would have liked to hear [herself] at one point or another.
She wrote: ‘Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. It’s completely okay to say that you don’t know something, that you haven’t studied something enough (yet) to form an opinion.
‘Related : It’s also okay to admit when you’ve done something wrong. We are all human and we are constantly learning. Being able to admit mistakes is a beautiful quality that I always appreciate in people.’
As well as urging her readers to ‘invest in a good mattress and pillow’, Lauren also recommended writing down any compliments or loving messages that they can return to when they are feeling ‘less mentally strong’.
What’s more, Lauren recommended keeping a diary and taking photos and videos of daily life – before adding: ‘Don’t forget to look through your own eyes, instead of always through a camera.’
Elsewhere, Lauren urged people to write down their funeral plans for their loved ones and also asked that readers refrain from giving chronically ill people unsolicited medical advice.
Lauren also added: ‘Do the things you want to do now , as quickly as possible. I got sick in the prime of my life and thought I would still have plenty of time, but no one has that guarantee. You never know what could happen. Don’t delay, live!’