Lizzie Kieffer said her daughter Lily died on April 23, 2025, aged 1 year and 10 days. Kieffer had announced in early March that she and her husband were expecting their third child. The family initially reported that doctors had found a large brain mass; Kieffer disclosed the diagnosis as atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) in a May 2026 update, after months of testing.
What happened to Lizzie Kieffer’s daughter?
Kieffer announced Lily’s death in an Instagram statement shared April 26, 2025, three days after her death. ABC News quoted the family’s words: “Our Lily passed away.” Kieffer said Lily was 1 year and 10 days old. She had celebrated her first birthday on April 13, according to ABC News.
In the initial announcement, the family said Lily had a large mass on her brain. Kieffer said they had not observed signs and were waiting for further testing, so the family did not yet have answers about what had happened. ABC News quoted the start of her statement: “We are shattered.”
What did Kieffer later say the brain mass was?
In an update posted May 16, 2026, Kieffer said the family had received a diagnosis in October 2025, following months of testing: atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, or ATRT. Us Weekly reported the update on May 18, 2026, and described the tumor as being in Lily’s brain stem. The diagnosis and location are details from Kieffer’s later account as reported by the outlet; they were not part of the family’s initial April announcement.
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The available reporting does not establish further medical details about Lily’s case. It does not provide a basis to infer when the tumor developed, what symptoms it caused, or whether it could have been prevented.
Timeline of the pregnancy announcement and Lily’s death
| Date | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Early March 2025 | Kieffer announced that she and her husband were expecting their third child, with the baby expected in September. Univision |
| April 13, 2025 | Lily celebrated her first birthday. ABC News |
| April 23, 2025 | Lily died, according to the family’s statement as reported by ABC News and Univision. |
| April 26, 2025 | Kieffer shared the initial announcement, reporting a large brain mass and saying further testing was needed. Instagram; ABC News |
| October 2025 | Kieffer later said the family received test results and a diagnosis. |
| May 16, 2026 | Kieffer posted the update identifying the diagnosis as ATRT; Us Weekly reported it on May 18. Us Weekly |
Who is Lizzie Kieffer?
ABC News described Kieffer as a physical therapist who creates pregnancy, postpartum, and pelvic-floor fitness content. Her professional background is separate from the family’s account of Lily’s diagnosis.
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