A University of Georgia student who fell unconscious due to complications from a brain tumor while on spring break in Mexico has died.
Liza Burke, a senior at UGA, was in Cabo San Lucas with a group of friends in March when she suffered a headache and laid down to rest. A few hours later, her friends attempted to wake her; however, Burke was not responsive and was then rushed to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
Laura Burke, Liza's mother, said on a GoFundMe page that Liza died early Friday morning.
"It is with both relief and belief that I share Liza’s passing at around 2:20 [Friday morning]," Burke said. "Liza has now been reunited with her sister and they are making up for lost time!"
Following her diagnosis, Burke was airlifted to Florida to receive medical care and was diagnosed with a brain tumor located near her brain stem. Doctors suggested Burke’s next step in her journey would be to undergo six weeks of radiation treatment. She completed three weeks before her family made the decision to end her treatments because she was not responding to the care.
“[Our family] met with several doctors and made the decision to cease radiation and pursue providing Liza a send-off like only she deserves,” Burke said earlier in the week. “If I could, I would hand onto Liza and follow her. But since I can’t, please continue your prayers for our Sleeping Warrior and for all of us who will never fully fill the void that will be left in her wake.”
On the GoFundMe page, Burke's family said a fund is being set up at the Foundation of the Carolinas in Liza's name.
"Some will go directly to an endowment at the University of Georgia, and we hope to direct some funds to further the education of Liza’s students in San Pancho, Mexico," the page said. "More details will follow."
