Social media influencer Mackenzie Paul has tragically passed away following a long and courageous battle with cancer. The 26-year-old first captured hearts online after sharing her health journey on Instagram and TikTok following her diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia three years ago.
Heartbreaking Announcement from Husband
Her husband, Brandon Paul, confirmed the devastating news in an emotional 10-minute video shared on Facebook on January 22. Through tears, Brandon paid tribute to his late wife, expressing both his profound grief and relief that her suffering had ended.
"As you know, or as most of you know, Kenzie is in heaven now," Brandon said in the video. "Selfishly, I wish she was here, still with me, and it's going to take the whole rest of my life to get over this. But the one thing I am really, really happy about is that she's not in pain anymore."
A Journey of Bravery and Transparency
Brandon revealed he had been blessed to be married to Mackenzie for two and a half years, during which he witnessed her endure "very, very tough times." He acknowledged that while Mackenzie was transparent about her journey on social media, there were private moments of extreme struggle that weren't shared publicly.
"There are some times where she was in the ICU and she was not breathing on her own, where none of us really shared," Brandon explained. "And it was a miracle that she made it this far."
Medical Student Turned Advocate
Mackenzie was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023 when she was just 23 years old and a second-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In an interview with PEOPLE at the time, she recalled how dizziness during a clinical rotation prompted her to seek medical attention.
"Other than being more tired, I really didn't have any symptoms," Mackenzie said. "My whole life I've been really healthy. I was a college athlete. But I remember looking at my labs and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is horrible'."
Seven weeks later, tests confirmed she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer affecting the body's blood-forming tissues including bone marrow and the lymphatic system.
Building an Online Community
Following her diagnosis, Mackenzie began documenting her journey on TikTok and Instagram, where she built a supportive community of nearly 30,000 followers. Her widely followed series titled #TakingBackWhatCancerTookFromMe became a daily ritual that celebrated small victories throughout her treatment and recovery.
In November last year, Mackenzie spoke to PEOPLE about the unexpected challenges of her ongoing battle. "I had no idea how truly challenging this journey would be," she admitted. "I believed I would undergo a stem cell transplant and then return to my life as a medical student. I never imagined that, more than two years later, I would still be fighting for my life, and now, for a miracle."
Legacy Through Words
Before her passing, Mackenzie authored a book titled THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE: A Book of Poems Written by a Cancer Patient, creating a lasting literary legacy from her experiences. Brandon later shared a series of photos alongside an emotional post praising his wife's bravery and expressing his heartbreak over his unimaginable loss.
"You made me a better husband, a better man, and simply just a better person, and I never knew I could love someone so much," Brandon wrote in his tribute.
An Outpouring of Support
Brandon's post has since been flooded with emotional messages from fans and followers, sharing their grief and remembering Mackenzie as an "amazing and strong woman." The online community she built continues to mourn her passing while celebrating the courage she displayed throughout her three-year battle.
Brandon's complete tribute captured the depth of their relationship and Mackenzie's enduring spirit. "Kenzie, you made me the happiest man ever," he wrote. "I honestly don't even know where to begin, or what to even say, I don't understand why this had to happen to us, we had so many dreams and we had our whole life mapped out together."
He continued, "Kenz you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, you brought so much light into this dark world, even when you weren't feeling your best, you still made sure everyone around you were doing okay. You were just the girl next door, which turned into the love of my life, and you're always gonna be my best friend no matter what."
Reflecting on their journey together, Brandon added, "These past two and a half years have been so so tough, you were the one going through treatment, daily hospital appointments, ICU visits, poked and prodded at, and through it all you still had that glowing smile on your face and you stayed strong for me each and every day."
