While her brother was sleeping next to her, Liza Burke took her final breath before passing out while he was firmly holding her hand. The world has been following Liza’s story, the stunning 21-year-old University of Georgia senior who organized a final pre-graduation spring break trip for 53 friends to Cabo. Nevertheless, while she was there, she experienced a brain hemorrhage, and it was found that she had a dangerous malignant brain tumor. She had made one final trip before.
When she passed away on April 28, her mother Laura McKeithen recalled that “her brother slept on the sofa and held her hand all night long.”. She took her final breath with Jack holding her hand. ”.
Liza’s mother, who is 55 years old, says Liza “lived it big” and was “very authentic and unapologetically herself,” and she offers this advice: “Don’t waste time worrying about stupid stuff. Basically, take a chance. ”.
Liza lived by that principle, being a person of adventure who was motivated to travel the world. During her vacation in Cabo, Liza did handstands on the sand, went boating, and went cliff diving, and she sent her mother pictures of the experience. On her last night, the group gathered around a beach bonfire where they sang and told stories. She left breakfast early the next morning and told friends she had a blinding headache from working out with her boyfriend. She went to her room to take a nap but was found in bed unconscious hours later. Doctors in Mexico discovered Liza had a brain bleed and thought she may have a ruptured Arteriovenoum malformation (AVM), so they removed a portion of her skull to stop the bleeding. Liza’s mother flew out to Florida as soon as she got back, picked her up, and took her to the Mayo Clinic. After local medical experts ruled out an AVM, her malignant, aggressive brainstem tumor was discovered.
UGA senior “drew her last breath,” ending her six-week battle with a brain tumor, with her brother’s hand firmly grasping hers.
GoFundMe / Friends Of Liza Burke Laura recalled that when Liza first woke up following being sedated, her daughter ripped the ventilator out of her mouth. They were concerned that she wouldn’t be able to breathe on her own, but Laura assured them that she was fine. ”.
Liza found it difficult because the tumor put strain on the part of her brain that kept her awake and she kept waking up. When she was awake, she would communicate in a variety of ways, according to her mother, such as by squeezing my hand or wiggling her toes. “I asked her, ‘Liza, are you scared?’ I had been asking her all kinds of other questions, but when I asked her if she was scared, she didn’t squeeze my hand. After Liza started her daily radiation treatment, which was intended to last for six weeks, she made a full recovery. Family and friends stayed with her for a few more days. She was exercising, doing squats, biking, and trying to walk.
Senior at UGA who had been fighting a brain tumor for six weeks “drew her last breath,” her brother’s hand firmly grasping hers.
A few days later, doctors found that she had another hemorrhage on her brain. Discussions with her medical team started because Liza’s mother wanted to prevent another intubation and because of Liza’s contagious spirit. Liza’s headaches during her freshman year of college raised Laura’s concern about whether they were precursors to the brain tumor and whether her daughter would be alright if they had been identified earlier.
GoFundMe / Friends Of Liza Burke Laura recalled posing the question, “If we had caught this when she first told me that she thought there was something wrong in her head-do you think things could have been different?” to Liza’s oncologist.
UGA senior “drew her last breath,” ending her six-week fight with a brain tumor, with her brother’s hand firmly grasping hers.
“Well, I can tell you one thing for sure: She wouldn’t have all of these pictures,” the oncologist said in response.
The oncologist surveyed her beautifully decorated space, which was “full, full, full, full of pictures of her and her friends.
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According to Laura, he said, “We would eventually be exactly where we are right now.”. Laura had to look for a place where she was sure her daughter would be happy after learning that the treatment was ineffective and that hospice care was suggested. According to her mother, “She would want to be somewhere beautiful, where she could be with her friends, and with her family, and everybody could celebrate her, and she could be outside and enjoy the beach, or the mountains.
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Laura discovered a beachfront Airbnb and rented it for a month after making sure the landlords were okay with it being used for hospice care. Liza’s immediate family and friends began stopping by their new house on April 19 after they had moved in.
Their grandparents and friends also made frequent appearances.
Liza was mute at the time but attentive. In order to communicate, Laura claimed that her daughter would wiggle her toes or make a tiny mouth or eyelid gesture. ”.
On April 27, everyone gathered to watch Interstellar, a film with Jessica Chastain and Matthew McConaughey. After the movie, Laura went to her own bedroom and explained her decision, saying, “I knew if I was with her, I would probably drive her crazy, staring at her and squeezing her hand and squeezing her toes and kissing her. Around two in the morning, Liza died. m. while sharing a bed with her brother Jack. on Friday mdot.
Liza let out a sigh and stepped into the next realm. Laura continued, “Liza and her sister are now back together and making up for lost time. Edie, Liza’s older sister, passed away in 2008 from MPS1, a rare genetic disease. Laura wrote in her heartbreaking online journal, “If I could, I would hang onto Liza and follow her.”. “On May 2, Laura received a letter in the mail from Liza addressed to her future self. It was a high school class project from Liza’s senior year. Her teacher promised to mail the letters to the students once they had graduated from college. Liza’s graduation day was May 12, 2023. It was simply breathtaking. Laura will read passages from the book she wrote at her memorial because “it was all her. ”.
Laura plans to scatter some of Liza’s ashes in Mexico and the mountains. Liza was cremated. The tumor may have taken her life, but it didn’t slow her down, said Laura, remembering her daughter as a brave, fearless, adventurous, and joyful young woman. She was engaged. To live each day to the fullest is her legacy. She freaking lived a good life, and I want people to know that. I wish I could be as successful in life as she has been. Her mother is asking for donations to The Liza and Edie Burke Education Fund in memory of two sisters and the sincere, dynamic, playful, and fierce way they gave back to the world. ”.
UGA student Liza Burke was diagnosed with a brain tumor following a trip to Mexico. Liza Burke, a student at the University of Georgie, who… Posted by Coolmediaplanet on March 28, 2023.
Because Liza was so young and had such a promising future, her passing is so tragic. We are keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time of healing, especially Laura, who lost her second daughter. READ AHEAD.
