RAWALPINDI: Messages of condolences and love have come from around the world as Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Nadia Chaudhri, who gathered a global following while sharing her days in palliative care, passed away this week.
As the news spread that Chaudhri has died, countless tributes poured in for the Karachi-born professor who taught at Concordia University in Canada and had amassed on Twitter a following of over 143,000 people whom she inspired describing her journey with terminal illness.
Chaudhri died of ovarian cancer at the age of 43. She left behind her son Reza, to whom she would refer as Sun in her tweets, and husband Moni Orife, whom she called Moon.
Her death was announced on social media by friend and colleague Dr. Krista Byers-Heinlein.

Chaudhri tweets frequently referred to harsh and painful realities of living with a terminal illness, including the gut-wrenching fear of having to tell her young son about her medical condition.
In September 2021, Chaudhri shared her story of being treated for a urinary tract infection for months before being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in June 2020.

The Pakistani neuroscientist used her social media platform to educate many on early detection of ovarian cancer along with limited research on the disease.
She also discussed her daily life — the paintings she made, the friends she visited and the time she spent with her family — as her tweets touched thousands of lives.
Twitter user @BatesPhysio wrote a thread in Chaudhri’s honor, saying: “Like many of you, I’ve been checking @DrNadiaChaudhri’s timeline for just one more tweet because she has been so much light and love. Entirely graceful. I was blessed to see how she dealt with tragedy.”
In the thread that mentioned other cancer survivors and fighters, she said: “We’ve all been brought together by this beautiful person.”

As an advocate for emerging scholars from diverse backgrounds, Chaudhri launched the Nadia Chaudhri Wingspan Award at Concordia “to provide vital funding to behavioral neuroscientists unable to fully participate in the field due to prejudice and other systemic barriers.”
In recognition of the efforts to raise funds for minority and marginalized students, Jennifer Maccarone, member of the National Assembly of Quebec, said the late neuroscientist’s family would receive the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec.
“Today, I wanted to pay tribute to an extraordinary woman, mother, professor and researcher: Dr. Nadia Chaudhri. Thank you for filling the world with your light and love,” Maccarone wrote.

Canadian TV personality Arlene Dickinson also shared Chaudhri’s story with her followers, writing: “I read about Dr. Chaudhri’s life and legacy and can’t help but ponder what I am doing with mine. Take a read. Take time to consider your time and legacy. Such a life she had. What joy she brought even through her pain. What a role model for a life well lived.”

Twitter user Karen Collins was among the thousands who commented on Chaudhri’s last tweet on September 29 where she detailed how she was being helped by nurses and was heading off to bed.
“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing today of our Dear Prof Nadia Chaudhri,” she wrote.
“May her Moon, Sun, Mama, Sister and family all find comfort in knowing how many around the world came to know and Love their Precious Nadia.”

“Her last words to us were ‘Back to snooze’. I can’t imagine a gentler, more reassuring way to say goodbye,” another Twitter user, @Blissparticle, wrote. ” Nadia is grace. Godspeed professor, I will see you at the feast.”