Lizzy Knox, known around the North for her bravery and infectious smile, died ‘surrounded by love’ on Thursday afternoon.
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She was just three weeks shy of her 18th birthday.
Her devoted older brother, Matt, posted a heartfelt tribute to his beloved sister on Facebook.
“For everyone who knows my amazing sister, Lizzy Knox, they would know her as bubbly, enthusiastic, spoilt, bratty, loving, sarcastic, beautiful and brave,” Matt wrote on Thursday.
“The last two were how she left us at 3 o'clock today, as stubborn as ever and surrounded by love.
“As hard as she has fought these past years she knew it was her time to leave us and she did so with grace and in peace.”
Lizzy, whose family lives in Youngtown, had Down syndrome, and was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome and aggressive liver disease about three years ago.
Myelodysplastic syndrome impacts the production of blood cells in bone marrow.
Lizzy, who bravely lived with terminal illness, was well known around the Launceston community.
The community often rallied around the family through fundraisers to help ‘Princess Lizzy’ access medical treatment, and the family raised funds through their Lizzy’s Blanks Facebook page.
Lizzy and her family frequently went to Melbourne for medical treatment, and she was a regular visitor at the Launceston General Hospital.
“My beautiful parents and I were so lucky to have her and not a second goes by that doesn't wish she was here,” Matt wrote on Facebook.
“But that cannot be our only thoughts, we all must find happiness knowing that her pain is over and she can have that rest a princess deserves.
“To our sassy little ray of sunshine and my best friend all we can say is we will see you soon, and we will always love and adore you unconditionally just how you deserve.”
Her parents, Suzy and David, and brother are incredibly grateful to the dedicated staff at the LGH children’s ward for their care.
Stories about Lizzy’s journey: