Maddy Baloy, a 26-year-old TikTok star who documented her battle against cancer, has sadly passed away.
The family of the former Florida kindergarten teacher turned TikTok star confirmed her passing to NBC News, revealing that she died on May 2, surrounded by her loved ones.
"Madison was much like her mom and would light up (the) room whenever she came in,” her father, Lucky Talmage, said. “Regardless if you knew Madison for five minutes or five years, she created a special bond with people that she encountered. She was truly special to us."
Maddy's mother, Carissa Talmage, said: "Cancer really has the ability to break you wide open and it definitely leaves a lot to be revealed.
"One of the things that it revealed about Madison was, not only her strong will and ability to push through the most severe pain, again and again, but it really reflected on just her character."
Carissa continued: "She continued to use her comedy, her ability to joke, to get through some of the most horrifying events that any parent should ever have to watch their child go through.
"Even when she was getting sick, nothing would stay down, her body was rejecting everything — food, water, she still couldn’t help but try to make everybody else around her feel comforted and safe.
"Despite what she was going through, to give you a smile, to give you a feeling of belonging and being safe with her around."
Maddy's journey with cancer became widely known among her followers after she shared her diagnosis of stage four terminal cancer in early 2023.
In her final Instagram post in March 2024, Maddy opened up about her deteriorating health, revealing that her cancer had metastasized to various parts of her body.
Despite the challenges, she remained determined to live life to the fullest.
Among her accomplishments was fulfilling a dream to meet celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, an encounter she cherished deeply.
Ramsay posted a tribute to the 26-year-old, writing on TikTok: "I’m truly at a loss for words by the sad news we received today about the loss of @madison.
"She was kind, fun and a true inspiration to me and my three girls. Knowing we were able to make one of her dreams come true will always be cherished by me. She’ll always be my first & last dance in the kitchen and never forgotten. Sending all our love to her fiancé and family."
Maddy had a bucket list of 18 things she wanted to tick off, and although she didn't complete all of them, she maintained her high spirits to the very end.
Tributes have poured in from fans underneath her social media posts, as one person wrote: "Rest in peace sweet girl, you truly left a mark in this world. We love you."
A second added: "Rest in peace you beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing your world with us, you will be missed more than you know."
A third said: "Rest in Peace you wonderful girl!! We all will be living out the rest of your bucket list for you!"
Our thoughts are with Maddy's loved ones during this time.
