Family of UGA student diagnosed with brain tumor makes decision to stop treatment

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A University of Georgia student who was diagnosed with a brain tumor after a recent trip to Mexico has died, according to a GoFundMe created on behalf of the family.

It was supposed to be one last spring break with friends. On her final day in Cabo San Lucas, Liza Burke, a senior at UGA, wasn’t feeling well. She woke up that morning with what felt like a migraine and then hours later, her friends couldn’t wake her up from a nap.

Burke was rushed to a hospital in Mexico for emergency surgery and eventually diagnosed with AVM or Arteriovenous Malformation, a condition that causes bleeding in the brain.

After several delays, Burke’s parents managed to get her transferred to a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

On April 18, the family made the difficult decision to stop treatment. Liza died on Friday, April 28 at around 2:20 a.m.

Friends organizing a GoFundMe on the families behalf shared this statement from Burke’s mother:

“It is with both relief and belief that I share Liza’s passing at around 2:20 last night. Liza has now been reunited with her sister and they are making up for lost time! Celebrations of Liza’s big energy are in the planning stages: one in Athens and another at a later date in her hometown of Asheville.
We are currently setting up a fund at the Foundation of the Carolinas in Liza (and Edie’s) names for educational purposes. 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. More details will follow."
The family and friends of Liza are so grateful for your outpouring of love, prayers and generosity as we traveled this tragic journey. Liza was loved by many and will be sorely missed.
Friends Of Liza Burke GoFundMe page

As of the publication of this article, $172,812 has been raised to help Liza’s family.