A teen who suffered from a disease that caused her constant pain has died.
Jerika Bolen, 14, made headlines when she wanted to hold a "last dance" prom before entering hospice care and deciding to end her life.
Jerika suffered from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II, which is a hereditary disease that leads to weak, wasting muscle tissue.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that there are three types: I, II, and III, with Type I being the most severe and Type III being more mild.
Related: Teen with terminal disease to hold prom before death
"I don't have many friends. I'm not, like, because I couldn't get out really and do many things because I was in so much pain, and this prom is, we'll, we call it my last dance," Jerika said in a July report from WBAY-TV.
The Appleton, Wisconsin, teen fulfilled her wish with a prom attended by more than 1,000 people.
Related: Teen with terminal genetic disorder fulfills final wish for prom
In August, she entered hospice care and stopped using her ventilator. Her mother, Jen Bolen, told The Post-Crescent Jerika died Thursday.
"When I decided (to end my life), I felt extremely happy and sad at the same time," Jerika told The Post-Crescent in July. "There were a lot of tears, but then I realized I'm going to be in a better place, and I'm not going to be in this terrible pain."
"My only words to anyone questioning this is that I love that girl with every cell in my being," Bolen said, "and no one in their right mind would let someone suffer like she was."
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