Makena White, the former girlfriend of professional golfer Jake Knapp, was experiencing heart problems prior to her death at age 28 this week.
In a post shared on X dated June 2, the former medical sales rep shared a photo showing that she was keeping tabs on her boyfriend’s performance at this year’s US Open Golf final qualifying tournament.
“We’re dialled #GolfsLongestDay,” she captioned the photo.
She followed up the tweet with another photo that showed her heart rate being tracked on her Apple Watch, which revealed she was experiencing tachycardia.
“(By dialled I mean tachycardic) #golfslongestday,” she added.
Per the Mayo clinic, “Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate over 100 beats a minute.”
“Tachycardia may not cause any symptoms or complications. But sometimes it’s a warning of a medical condition that needs attention. Some forms of tachycardia can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Such problems may include heart failure, stroke or sudden cardiac death.”
In another previous X post shared in May, she revealed she suffered from her own heart defect that required her to wear some form of monitoring equipment.
“The irony of being at a cardiac surgery conference (for my job) while wearing a holter monitor for your own heart defect is pretty funny,” she wrote alongside a mirror selfie showing off said monitor. She also insinuated in April that she’d undergone some sort of procedure — her sixth in a string of operations.
White’s death was revealed by one of her friends in an Instagram post shared to the 28-year-old’s account on Friday.
“Makena passed away earlier this week,” the friend wrote. “She is already so deeply missed by her Dad, her family, her friends, and of course by [dogs] Nelly and Fergie.”
Her official cause of death has not yet been revealed as details surrounding her shocking passing remain unknown.
White’s boyfriend commented on the sad loss of his girlfriend in a statement given to Page Six on Saturday, admitting he was having a hard time processing the “tough reality.”
“Makena was such a thoughtful person whose selflessness toward others is something I will always appreciate,” the PGA golfer, 31, said, noting her “fun, outgoing energy” that “will be missed” by him, family and friends.
“It’s an understatement to say how hard all of this is to process for everyone who knew Mak, especially her family and friends, who deserve privacy and respect during this difficult time,” Knapp closed.