On Oct. 11, 2018, Starr underwent a type of eye surgery called SMILE, which stands for small incision lenticule extraction procedure. It’s supposed to be a less invasive procedure than the standard LASIK with a shorter recovery time. Starr’s doctor told her she’d be a good candidate for the newer SMILE procedure, but the side effects were much more severe than expected.

After the surgery, Starr posted updates about her recovery, several of which were reshared in a TikTok video in July 2023. The video, posted by @tokkingwithstrangers, chronicled Starr’s “recovery” to her suicide. She explained in videos that she wore glasses and contacts for 23 years and working in the media industry, it made sense to get eye surgery.

“I am struggling a little bit,” she said in a video. “So I do still need all the prayers and well wishes.” She reportedly needed eye drops every five minutes after the surgery for months to clear out dry eyes and blurred vision. By December, her problems were not getting better, and doctors simply told her that she just needed more time to heal.

However, she left behind over 30 pages detailing her experience with the surgery and a suicide note before she took her own life on Dec. 12, 2018. She left behind her husband, Dan Rose, and their two children. She was just 35 years old when she took her life.