HEARTBREAKING tributes have poured in after soldier and fitness influencer Michelle Young died by suicide just days after her daughter’s birthday.
Staff Sergeant Michelle Young, 34, who had served two tours in Afghanistan, tragically died on Saturday.
An emotional post on her GoFundMe by her friend Sarah Maine reads: “Michelle was a beautiful soul, an amazing friend, a single mother, a soldier, and is proof you never know what someone is going through or what demons they may be fighting.
“We will never fill the gaps in our hearts and will always be left with questions.
She continued by saying Michelle is survived by her daughter Gracie, who was her “whole world”.
Just days before her death, the 34-year-old had shared an Instagram post celebrating her daughter’s birthday.
She wrote: “Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I’ve ever known.
“She’s a force to be reckoned with, she’s witty, ambitious, kind, compassionate, intelligent, hardworking, hilarious, and selfless.
“I cried the entire time I made this. I love you forever, kiddo. The best part about my life is being your momma.”
Michelle had served in the army for 16 years after she first enlisted when she was 17.
She returned from her first deployment seven years later.
She wrote on an Instagram post: “I was in the military before I became a mother.
“I volunteered for this life, she didn’t. She’s had to be away from her only parent during multiple deployments, TDYs, and training, yet she never complains.”
In October, she posted a series of photos with her daughter where the duo were dressed up as Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
The influencer’s Instagram page has been filled with devastating tributes by friends and family.
One reads: “Rest in paradise, Michelle. A brave soul who faced struggles we may never fully comprehend.
“May her daughter find solace in cherished memories, and may we collectively strive to support one another through the unseen battles.
Another one says: “I wish you had called old friend. I hope you have found the peace you were looking for.”
The influencer was an advocate for better mental health treatment for veterans and was a crisis trauma response volunteer at her local shelter.
In another post Young had explained, that it was her brother’s suicide that had motivated her to help others.
“That day forever changed my life, but it also created a passion for helping others that I don’t think I would have had if I didn’t experience the pain of losing him,” she wrote.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
