TikToker Mackenzie Paul dead at 26 from leukemia

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Mackenzie Paul, a TikTok user who gained attention in August 2023 by sharing her cancer journey, has passed away at the age of 26.

Brandon, her husband, announced her passing in a TikTok video, speaking directly to those who had been following her health updates.

He shared that Kenzie had passed away. While he deeply misses her and knows it will take a lifetime to heal, he finds comfort in knowing she’s no longer suffering.

Brandon shared that the last two and a half years of marriage to his wife have been wonderful. He also described a difficult period where she faced serious health challenges. While she was open about some things online, he explained there were very private and frightening moments, including times in the ICU when she needed help breathing. He called her recovery a miracle.

“It still doesn’t feel like it’s happening,” he said. “I’m so grateful for all the prayers and support. I just wanted to let everyone know how Kenzie is doing. She was my everything, my best friend, and she always will be.”

Paul built a large following while documenting her leukemia battle

In October 2023, Paul publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She was a second-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine at the time.

The former college athlete from Lake Superior State University sought medical attention after experiencing dizziness while completing her clinical training.

She said she mostly just felt tired and didn’t experience any other noticeable symptoms. She’d always been very healthy, especially as a college athlete, but was shocked when she saw her test results, describing them as ‘horrible’.

So, I started sharing my cancer journey on TikTok and Instagram, and it really blew up – I quickly gained almost 30,000 followers! That support inspired me to start a daily series called #TakingBackWhatCancerTookFromMe, where I’d post about even the smallest wins I had during treatment. It was a way to stay positive and show everyone that even during tough times, there’s always something to celebrate.

In November 2025, she admitted she hadn’t realized how difficult her fight would become. She’d initially expected a stem cell transplant to allow her to return to medical school, but more than two years later, she was still struggling, now hoping for a miracle.

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2026-01-23 21:48