Brooke Eby was single at the time of her death, after making a conscious decision to step away from romantic relationships while living with ALS. The social media creator and advocate had been unusually open about dating, relationships and the complications of finding love while facing a terminal illness.
Eby’s approach to the subject was often candid, funny and deliberately unfiltered. Instead of hiding the difficult realities of dating with ALS, she frequently turned her experiences into conversations with her large online audience.
Her relationship history included dating-app experiences after her diagnosis and a serious relationship with a man named Brian, an old family connection who became her partner for roughly a year and a half.
Dating After ALS
Brooke Eby’s life changed dramatically after she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in March 2022.
Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, she continued looking for ways to experience an ordinary life. Dating was one of those areas.
After her diagnosis, Eby briefly turned to online dating apps. She documented some of her experiences on social media, using the dry humor and blunt honesty that became a defining part of her online presence.
Dating while living with a terminal neurological disease presented obvious challenges. Potential matches had to learn about her diagnosis, her changing physical abilities and the uncertainty surrounding her future.
Rather than presenting those experiences as a polished love story, Eby showed the awkward conversations and uncomfortable moments that could come with introducing ALS into the dating process.
Who Was Brian?
Eby’s most significant relationship after her diagnosis was with Brian, who was already connected to her family.
Brian was described as a longtime family friend and the best friend of Eby’s brother-in-law. Their existing connection gave the relationship a different starting point from the strangers she encountered through dating apps.
The pair eventually began dating and remained together for approximately a year and a half.
Their relationship represented a period when Eby was able to share her life with someone romantically while also navigating the progression of ALS.
However, the relationship eventually came to an end.
Why Did They Split?
Eby ultimately decided that Brian was not the right long-term partner for her.
The decision was significant because she was already living with a terminal illness, yet she refused to allow her diagnosis to convince her to stay in a relationship that no longer felt right.
She explained her thinking to her followers in a message that reflected her determination to maintain independence and authenticity.
Eby made clear that having a limited amount of time did not mean she was willing to settle for a relationship that wasn’t a genuine match.
Her perspective challenged the idea that someone facing a serious illness should accept any available companionship simply because their circumstances are difficult.
For Eby, being alone was preferable to remaining with someone who wasn’t right for her.
Choosing to Be Single
After the breakup, Eby eventually decided not to pursue another romantic relationship.
As her ALS progressed, her priorities changed. Managing her health and maintaining her independence required increasing amounts of physical and emotional energy.
In an interview with People, Eby explained that she eventually reached a point where she felt she could not be a partner to another person while she was focused on simply surviving herself.
That decision was not necessarily a rejection of love or relationships. Instead, it reflected the reality of her circumstances and her understanding of what she could realistically give to another person.
Her Family
While Eby was no longer pursuing a romantic relationship, she was surrounded by an important support system.
As her mobility declined, she moved back to her parents’ home, where her family became increasingly involved in her daily care.
Her father, Cliff Eby, became one of her primary caregivers and appeared regularly in her social media content. Their relationship became familiar to followers who watched Brooke document her life with ALS.
Her mother and sister also played important roles in helping her manage everyday life.
The support provided by her family became particularly important as the disease changed what she was physically able to do on her own.
More Than Dating
Eby’s discussions about relationships were ultimately part of a much larger conversation about living with ALS.
She refused to present herself only as a patient. Through TikTok and other social media platforms, she discussed dating, disability, accessibility, independence and the everyday realities of a progressive illness.
Her willingness to discuss dating also helped expose an issue that is rarely addressed openly: people living with serious disabilities can still want intimacy, companionship and romantic connection.
At the same time, Eby showed that independence can mean making difficult decisions about relationships, including choosing to remain single.
Her Final Relationship Status
Brooke Eby was single when she died, having chosen to focus her remaining energy on her health, family and advocacy rather than actively pursuing another romantic relationship.
Her relationship with Brian remained the most significant publicly discussed romance during her ALS journey, but Eby did not define her life solely through that relationship.
Instead, she became known for her humor, honesty and willingness to discuss subjects many people might avoid.
Her decision to walk away from a relationship that no longer felt right, even while facing a terminal diagnosis, became one of the clearest examples of her independent outlook.
For Eby, the goal was not simply to have a partner. It was to live authentically, make her own choices and spend her limited time in ways that felt meaningful to her.