Ariane Noelle Patterson, Student, Dies After Tweeting 'Thank You God for Another Year Of Life' [UPDATE]

It was Ariane Noelle Patterson's 21st birthday, and she was grateful to be alive.

The Gardner-Webb University student took to her Twitter account on Jan. 17 and posted the message: "Thank you God for another year of life."

Hours later, she collapsed during a religion class and was rushed to nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the Associated Press reports.

The senior at the North Carolina Christian college was originally from Delaware and majored in religious studies, the Shelby Star reports. She had recently obtained a work-study position managing multimedia for campus ministries.

The cause of her death is still under investigation.

The university released the following statement on its Facebook page:

We are deeply saddened and in shock by this monumental loss. We pray for Ariane's family and friends during this difficult time, and hope they will somehow find peace in the midst of this tragedy. No words can truly express how we collectively feel as a university during this time.

While the school encouraged students to write memories of Patterson on its Facebook page, at least two classmates shared their thoughts on their student blogs.

One friend wrote:

I write songs, and when Ariane found out, we bonded because of this common love. She was a very talented rapper, and I had every intention of having her freestyle on the next thing I recorded (even though my music is far from hip-hop :) She was just that good.

Another peer acknowledged he had never met Patterson in person, but recalls her cheerful character:

Her presence on the quad and at certain events I attended was joyous and positive...I bet she got the greatest birthday present of all-time. To make it to heaven with our heavenly father.

A prayer service will be held at noon on Jan. 20 at the university's Paul Porter Arena, WBTV reports.

@iamANP117
Ariane Patterson

Thank you God for a nother year of life

January 17, 2012 1:52 pm via txt Reply Retweet Favorite

UPDATE:

The Cleveland County coroner revealed that Patterson suffered a heart attack on Jan. 17 from complications of systemic lupus erythematous, the Shelby Star reports. The student was first diagnosed with the autoimmune disease when she was 9 years old.

Clarification: A previous version of this story cited an article by the Gaston Gazette titled "GWU student collapses in class, dies." The story was originally reported by the Shelby Star, the Gaston Gazette's sister publication.

Comments

[Bitter Sylence]

02:45 AM on 02/09/2012

I encourage all of the nogs to start tweeting.

[treemeizer]

11:51 AM on 01/30/2012

"Thank you God for a nother year of life"

Apparently God is a stickler for spelling?

[DanSmooth]

02:04 PM on 01/30/2012

What's the purpose of your post? Were you trying to be funny? If that was the case you failed. Instead of using this incident to try and prove a point about God, rellgion, etc., why don't you take this opportunity to send condolences to Ariane's family and friends. A family is in pain. Don't be classless.

[treemeizer]

03:18 PM on 01/30/2012

"What's the purpose of your post?"

Why, to spark debate and conversation of coarse. That some, if not many, find it offensive is an obvious byproduct.

"...why don't you take this opportunit­y to send condolence­s to Ariane's family and friends."

Should they belief she is now in heaven, wouldn't letters of congratulations be in order? Isn't entering an existential plane of eternal bliss a good thing?

[Reimsky Toussaint]

03:28 AM on 01/27/2012

Rest in Peace Ariane. And thank you for all the love you brought on us, we were blessed to have you among us.

[CertifiedApproved]

06:48 PM on 01/26/2012

Wear your faith with pride! Check out cool tees promoting faith and truth at: www.cafepress.com/certifiedapprovedtees

[jackieoclassist]

09:34 AM on 01/26/2012

I'm an atheist, but I still appreciate that she was grateful for being here--a view which we should all easily relate to, but often take for granted. Those on this thread who claim that an atheist can't understand her sentiments are basing their comments on a sample of atheists that is hardly representative of us all and everyone loses in the end as a result of this intolerance. FIgure out how to tolerate others unlike yourself or it's going to be one long, boring, and probably fairly unhappy life for many of you.

[bigkendallas]

06:45 PM on 02/13/2012

Thanks for representing.

Im a confirmed Christian, but im perfectly happy with an Athiest who respects that there are some who believe.

As I respect that ther are some who don't.

[CarolinaBlu22]

10:00 PM on 01/25/2012

It breaks my heart to see the negative posts that people are making about religion. The point is to give condolences to her family and be supportive. It's not to turn this into an anti-God thing. My thoughts and prayers go out for this family. It's incredible to hear of the amazing life she lived out for God.

[blizzard man robot voice]

06:22 PM on 01/25/2012

Oh, the nastiness of atheists are truly coming to light in this article.

[AsphyxZero]

02:56 PM on 02/12/2012

It's the irony of this article.

[ethelmertzrules]

04:48 PM on 01/25/2012

What a sad story. It's great that she expressed gratitude for her life, many don't.

[jokamachi]

04:45 PM on 01/25/2012

Soulless atheists can't get enough of this stuff. They lay in wait and pounce as soon as they see the word "God" in any thread. They do this because they are unhappy in their lives, and they won't be happy until everyone is as miserable as they are. This is the product of make it up as you go along morality. This is the product of a flimsy existential belief system. This is the stuff of Ayn Rand. It erodes the core of our values as a nation, and this is why according to a 2007 Pew research poll 67% of the electorate has admitted they would be uncomfortable electing an atheist candidate, compared to 42% that have admitted they wouldn't be comfortable electing a Muslim.

[Gentleman Agitator]

12:00 PM on 01/27/2012

Where are those HP badges when I need one? Insightful badge awarded!

[detroitblkmale30]

03:52 PM on 01/25/2012

God bless her family in this time of grief. Leave it to the insensitive anti-faithful to deride someone's faith in an instance like this.

[rtgmath]

01:29 PM on 01/25/2012

Ouch. Not only must this be a shock to the parents, but the irony of it must sting terribly. To give God thanks for something, then to have it taken away. This may stress terribly the faith of her parents -- and anyone else thinking about it.

Yes, none of us knows how long we have. Death often seems arbitrary. Death is always merciless.

I do hope family and friends of Ariane can find solace and comfort in each other. I know this young lady's presence will be sorely missed.

[Robert Gift]

12:53 PM on 01/25/2012

Sorry that she died.
Did she have an idea that something was wrong?
Or just coincidence that she wrote this and then happened to die.
All religions are man-made myth.

[bigkendallas]

06:46 PM on 02/13/2012

"All religions are man-made myth."

To make that claim, you must have a superior intellect that every other person.

I doubt that.

[Robert Gift]

07:58 PM on 02/13/2012

bigkendallas confuses: "To make that claim, you must have a superior intellect that every other person."
Incorrect. One of even low intelligence can realize that all religions are man-made myth.
Merely takes a little thought and discernment.

[originalbadgirl1]

11:22 AM on 01/25/2012

Really sad, makes you put things into perspective.

[summersjrc]

10:53 AM on 01/25/2012

Just another blow to the belief in the "magic man in the sky" theory. Sometimes folks can be so primitive. Hey I'm selling solid golden chariots, post-mortem of course, for only $29.99. Any takers?

[AshleyM83]

02:51 AM on 01/28/2012

How is this a "blow" to any religion? Since when does ANY religion teach that only good things happen to those who believe in God? Maybe you should actually read about religion before commenting on things you obviously know nothing about.

[summersjrc]

12:30 PM on 01/30/2012

Why would you pray to ask for positive things to happen for yourself, your friends, and your family then? See god doesn't intervene not because of free will as you may propose, but simply because he is not there to begin with. I have read the bible for many years....Primitive humans believing in the magic trickery like water to wine and healing audience planted "sick" people is no reason to lose all rational thought and close your eyes and beg the invisible magic man to look kindly on you. Then to try and bribe you they promise you all your wildest dreams, not now of course, after you are dead and can't come back to expose the ruse. It's time to grow the hell up and start using critical thought and science to explain reality, not fantasy competing magic men!

[Ashley Brazzel]

10:15 AM on 01/25/2012

Yeah - this isn't about religion. This is about how students take any opportunity to speak out or draw attention to themselves in class. I substitute taught for 7 years, and I completely understand why this teacher does not want students saying "bless you" after a sneeze.