Family members have revealed that Addison’s disease contributed to the passing of Taylor Rousseau Grigg. In a statement to TODAY, a representative for the TikTok star’s family said that Grigg, 25, passed away on October 4 after “suffering complications from asthma and Addison’s disease.” While Grigg didn’t share her specific diagnosis in her past videos, she did reveal she was dealing with a lot of pain and other symptoms from her illness.
What are the causes and symptoms of Addison’s disease?
Addison’s disease, otherwise known as adrenal insufficiency, is a rare condition that occurs when the adrenal glands don’t make enough cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that controls blood pressure, affects the immune system, and contributes to the breaking down of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In addition to a lack of cortisol, Addison’s disease also prevents the adrenal glands from producing enough aldosterone. This hormone is responsible for balancing the levels of sodium and potassium in the blood and especially the kidneys.
One of the most frequent causes for the condition is the immune system attacking the adrenal glands by mistake. It can also be caused by fungal infections, inherited disorders, tuberculosis infection, and cancer.
Addison’s disease causes a long list of symptoms, including weakness, dizziness, weight loss, fatigue, vomiting, low blood pressure, muscle aches, and dehydration. More severe symptoms include acute abdominal pain, kidney failure, and extreme weakness.
News of Taylor Grigg’s passing was first revealed by her husband, Cameron Grigg, who stated in an October 5 post on Instagram that “this past year Taylor has dealt with more pain and suffering than most people do in a lifetime.” He also reveals that she had been in and out of the hospital ever since they got married in August 2023, which impacted their financial situation to such a degree that they didn’t have insurance. Donations to her family can be made to a GoFundMe page, which has already raised over $50,000.
Taylor Grigg shared in an August 8 video on TikTok that she was “fighting for her life” and said there were times where she “didn’t necessarily know what was wrong with me.”
