The Mack family has opened up further about the heartbreaking demise of their beloved Kelley. Two days after the tragic news emerged that Kelley, a former cast member of 'The Walking Dead' who portrayed Addy in season nine of the AMC hit show, had passed away, her family confirmed to The New York Times on August 6 that she succumbed to an aggressive tumor that assaulted her central nervous system. The day before, Kelley's sister, Kathryn, shared the sorrowful news of her passing on August 2 at the tender age of 33.
"With an indelible sadness etched in our hearts, we announce the passing of our cherished Kelley," Kathryn captioned an Instagram post on August 5. "A radiant and passionate beacon of light has transitioned to the realm beyond, where we all inevitably journey."
Prior to her untimely departure, Kelley, born Kelley Lynne Klebenow, disclosed her battle with a rare and malignant brain tumor known as diffuse midline glioma, which according to the Mayo Clinic, arises in the midline structures of the brain, encompassing the brainstem, thalamus, and spinal cord. Her cancer journey included a arduous surgery that necessitated her relearning how to walk.
"Following the biopsy surgery on my spinal cord," Kelley captioned a January Instagram post showcasing her smile from a hospital bed, "I have lost the use of my right leg and most functionalities of my left, thus relying on a walker and wheelchair for mobility."
Two months hence, the '9-1-1' alumnus shared her progress in regaining independence in movement. "I've navigated these stairs twice in the past few days," she penned alongside a March Instagram video of herself walking with the support of her boyfriend, Logan. "It's a significant milestone for me. (Life, with its ups and downs, hasn't been easy lately, has it?)."
In the aftermath of her passing, Kathryn reflected on the profound impact her sister had, and continues to have, on those whose lives she touched. "Kelley has already manifested herself to many of her loved ones in the form of numerous butterflies," Kathryn continued. "She will be deeply missed, a void that words fail to adequately express."
