I didn't even know who she was until I read her book (since I had a minor, temporary version of that syndrome, now completely gone). Reading her book, I could see that she was very cute, and also engaging and charming, with a cheeky sense of humor and zest for enjoying life. I remember her writing that at one point while she was hospitalized she had this giant, blown-up photo of Dr. Kervorkian in her room, as this kind of joke on her doctors (and to keep them from patronizing her too, I think).
She was very seriously ill, and I hope she's overcome it. It was a freaky, little- known illness called sarcoidosis.