Mackenzie Jade Coleman (Kenzie)

20/04/2015- 30/10/2025

Diagnose aged 9.

12th of June 2024, told of brain tumor, 13 th biopsy and VP shunt put in; 18th of June full diagnosis of DIPG with H3K27 mutation. Mackenzie did 6 weeks of radiation and then 6 months later did another 2 weeks. She was on ONC201, (that was made available on compassionate grounds) after the first round of radiation. We live in rural QLD so stayed at home away from hospital as often as we could, it was a 4hr drive to Brisbane. We went on beach holidays and when she was feeling good we visited family interstate. Mackenzie went to school as often as she could and loved spending time with her friends.

Thankfully, Mackenzie was still able to do what she loved up till the last day. Painting! We also took her out 4 days before she passed. We took her out on the ski boat and put her in the tube for what we didn’t know would be her last run. The beautiful smile told the whole story.

Mackenzie was a beautiful, loving, caring, brave, strong girl who touched everyone she came in contact with, always polite but with the perfect mix of sass. Her favourite things in the world were her family, painting, water skiing and her chooks.

She wanted to be a famous painter and a mum when she grew up. She was already running a small painting business where she sold her beautiful paintings and then used the money to purchase more paint and canvases.

Anything Mackenzie put her mind to she did and she did it fast, crawling to walking even to her last breath she decided she wanted to go and so she did.

We want to support research because Mackenzie was always worried about everyone else before herself, even when she was at her worst, so we know that she would want to try and help find a cure and support so other children and families don’t have to suffer.