Kelley Mack's Brave Battle With Cancer Before Her Death

Actress Kelley Mack, best known for playing Addy in The Walking Dead, faced a reality more horrifying than any scripted one when she was diagnosed with a sporadic and aggressive form of cancer. Kelley died on August 2 at the age of only 33, and what she leaves us is a legacy of bravery, ingenuity, and a pulse. At the start of 2024, Kelley revealed to fans that she was fighting an acute and terminal form of astrocytoma cancer called diffuse midline gliomaPlace here in February 10.

An instantly recognizable actress, Kelley made her biggest impact off-camera by candidly detailing the arduous months of treatment and recovery that followed her diagnosis. Her journey began in September 2013, when she moved into a new apartment with her boyfriend, Logan. Lower back pain was so intense that it was initially diagnosed as a slipped disc. But the pain eventually progressed to a neuropathic itch, shooting pains in his legs, and an inability to lie flat due to excruciating discomfort symptoms that left Kelley with a feeling that something wasn't right.

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Everything changed on Thanksgiving Eve. An emergency MRI showed a tumour interwoven into her spinal cord. A follow-up biopsy shortly thereafter confirmed the diagnosis. The surgery left her right leg completely immobile and the left limited in function, converting her to a wheelchair for 99% of the time in this new world, only able to use a walker with help. Still, Kelley never allowed her light to be extinguished. She used no-nonsense posts on Instagram to raise awareness about the rare disease, revealing her struggles with dignity and at times empowering others with her unbreakable spirit. 

For those final months, right up until the last moment when the odds finally turned, her family came to see what may be her hope at its most determined. Her journey, she said, was no longer singular, and her platform has a purpose. She drew attention not only to the updates for those who followed her, but an even breath will also bring awareness of the critical need for more research in these rare cancers, like hers. The story of Kelley Mack was a tale not mired in tragedy, but one of courage. Former viewers who rooted for Addy amid a zombie apocalypse now remember Kelley as a fighter fighting for her life, a battle she fought with brutal honesty and unflinching resolve.