Following the unexpected Christmas Eve death of her fiancé, ESPN college football reporter Edward Aschoff, Katy Berteau posted a powerful, heartfelt 12-tweet tribute to the late 34-year-old reporter Thursday.

"I want to share the brightness that he showed, even up until the last day he was awake," she wrote on Aschoff's official Twitter account. "He kept the doctors and nurses constantly laughing, and always made a point to thank them and tell them what a great job they were doing. He also loved Christmas so much that, even from the ICU, he was coordinating with my friend about wrapping my presents so I could be surprised."

Berteau said the support from friends and acquaintances over social media has provided "brief moments of joy in this darkness." 

This undated photo provided by ESPN images shows ESPN college football reporter Edward Aschoff. (Photo: Rich Arden, AP)

"I couldn’t be more proud that the one thing people are talking about most was his ability to lift them up with his energy, light, and that all-encompassing smile," Berteau wrote. "The outpouring of love, admiration, and gratitude for his life have been so incredible, and have helped me through these last few days."

Aschoff and Berteau were slated to be married when he fell ill. She wrote that they visited the emergency room and a week later he was diagnosed with multifocal pneumonia. She said the antibiotic treatment failed and his symptoms got worse before returning to the ER.

"After many tests — bone marrow and lung biopsies — treatment was started for a presumed diagnosis of HLH, an unregulated, over-activation of the immune system that causes it to attack itself and other healthy tissues," she explained. "Within 3 days of being moved into the ICU, he passed."

Berteau added that she chose to write about specific detail about the death to honor Aschoff because: "As a journalist, it was of the utmost importance to him that stories be accurate."

(6/12) After many tests – bone marrow and lung biopsies – treatment was started for a presumed diagnosis of HLH, an unregulated, over-activation of the immune system that causes it to attack itself and other healthy tissues. Within 3 days of being moved into the ICU, he passed. pic.twitter.com/O8v3eZqefX

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