Kelly Ronahan made quite a splash on social media back in 2014. After a video of her went viral on TikTok, she started making rounds on the platform.
It seemed that everyone in the country was following her journey as she battled a horrible illness, which caused a series of unfortunate events.
Even though there was a lot of media coverage around Kelly’s story, not many people know who she was. Outside of the tragedy, Ronahan’s life was a complete mystery to most.
So, if you’re trying to find out more about the ballet dancer, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Kelly Ronahan.
I’ll also cover the events that led to her 2014 viral TikTok video.
Kelly Ronahan Profile Summary
| Name | Kelly Ronahan |
| Gender | Female |
| Place of Birth | Kelowna, Canada |
| Nationality | Canda |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religious Beliefs | Christian |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
Kelly Ronahan Early Life
We don’t know much about Kelly’s upbringing. Her parents, date of birth, and early life remain a mystery to the public.
Yet, we know that Ronahan has a twin sister, Gina. It’s unclear if the two were close growing up or what their relationship is like now.
Moving on, Kelly is an alumna of Okanagan College. Then, after graduation, she began her career as a ballet dancer and trainer.
For most of her adult life, Ronahan kept a low profile. Yet, this would all change in 2014.
Kelly Ronahan’s Story
Kelly caught the country’s attention when she released a TikTok video talking about her mysterious illness in 2014. She required a weekly blood transfusion to manage a rare blood disorder.
According to Ronahan, her illness was a result of multiple sclerosis and a uterine fibroid. Because of that, she’d need regular blood transfusions to stay healthy.
Without them, she would go into organ failure, and within four to six weeks, she’d fade away. Plus, she stated that she’d need a hysterectomy to resolve the issue.
Although she had no proof to back up her claims.
On top of that, even doctors couldn’t determine what was causing her hemoglobin levels to drop significantly.
This created quite a stir on social media. Some people felt for Ronahan and offered her their sympathy and condolences. In contrast, a few individuals believed that Kelly’s illness was self-inflicted.
They accused the ballet dancer of faking the disease to garner attention.
This would go on for years, without any solid answers about the exact nature of her condition. By 2016, Kelly had received over 95 liters of blood through transfusions from 55 donors.
This translates to about three blood bags every two weeks. Most of that came from well-wishers thanks to her social media following.
Kelly Ronahan’s Worsening Condition
Even though Ronahan was getting regular blood transfusions, her condition never improved. In fact, it seemed to be worsening.
Unfortunately, that meant she was unable to carry on with her career as a ballet dancer and trainer. During this time, Kelly would post health updates on her Instagram account.
With every post she shared, the former dancer’s online family showered her with support and well-wishes.
That was until July 2016. At the time, Ronahan was admitted to the hospital because she was suffering from seizures.
This prompted her online fan base to organize a blood drive in an effort to save her life.
However, Kelly wouldn’t spend much time at the hospital. After a while in intensive medical care, the doctors deduced that she was faking her seizures. So, they quickly discharged her.
Kelly Ronahan’s Unraveling
While the news of Kelly’s unnecessary hospitalization cost her some fans, the public was still square on her side. People from all over the country would check up on the former dancer and make sure she was doing ok.
Then, in early 2017, Ronahan claimed that her port had been inflamed for a while, which led to sepsis. Although, that wasn’t the most surprising news surrounding her story.
While she was dealing with the sepsis, Kelly came forward about her past struggles with an eating disorder. Plus, she talked about her obsession with exercise.
On top of that, she admitted that she used to hurt herself before falling ill. This information was incredibly polarizing.
Some showed even more support toward Kelly, while others began questioning her motives and mental well-being.
After that, Ronahan went back to the hospital in April 2017. The main reason behind her visit was unclear, but the doctors asked for a blood sample.
Upon further testing, medical professionals discovered that Kelly’s hemoglobin levels were back to normal. This sparked many rumors about the dancer faking her illness.
Yet, she denied these claims and accused the doctors of conspiring against her. That’s when she revealed that she was suffering from a rare blood disorder called Behcet’s disease.
However, by 2018, doctors removed her port, stating that she wouldn’t need any more blood transfusions.
Kelly Ronahan’s Leg
About a month after Kelly removed her port, she reported swelling and blisters on her feet. However, the doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause, even with extensive medical testing.
On top of that, a few healthcare professionals stated that Kelly would constantly pick at her blisters, making them worse.
This led most people around the country to accuse Ronahan of Munchausen syndrome. It’s a disorder that causes individuals to fake an illness to garner more attention.
For a while after that, Kelly’s condition seemed to improve. Yet, after picking at her wounds again, she had to immediately return to the hospital.
As time went on, Ronahan began complaining that she was losing feeling in her legs and ankles. After that, she lost one of her toes.
At this point, doctors were worried about nerve damage and blood circulation issues. So, they recommended a leg amputation.
After that, Kelly slowly retreated from the public eye and reduced her social media presence.
Wrapping Up
Kelly Ronahan is a former ballet dancer and trainer. She first came into the public eye when she shared her health struggles on TikTok.
However, after years of treatment, the public found out that many of Kelly’s symptoms were self-inflicted.
Finally, after her leg amputation, Ronahan disappeared from the limelight.
