Amanda Mack, a junior on the College of the Holy Cross women’s volleyball team, died Wednesday night at age 20, according to a message posted to her Instagram account.
Mack had been battling severe aplastic anemia, a rare condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough new blood cells. She first disclosed her diagnosis in July, telling followers she had undergone two emergency surgeries “to save my life” after complications arose.
In her original post, Mack said she had woken up several weeks earlier “not feeling good” with a bad headache, then passed out and was hospitalized in what she described as “critical condition.”
“Somehow my body had depleted my blood supply and ability to clot,” she wrote. “I was admitted to the hospital and loaded full of blood and platelet transfusions.”
Doctors initially feared leukemia, but two bone marrow biopsies confirmed aplastic anemia. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition “happens when your bone marrow stops making enough new blood cells,” leaving patients fatigued and vulnerable to infection and uncontrolled bleeding. It is rare, can strike at any age, and can develop suddenly or gradually with varying severity.
Mack said a doctor told her a virus had caused her immune system “to go rogue and start killing my bone marrow,” leaving her unable to produce red blood cells and without a functioning immune system.
Doctors arranged a bone marrow transplant, and Mack was admitted to Tampa General Hospital on Aug. 11 to begin six rounds of chemotherapy and a round of full-body radiation ahead of the procedure. Three days after admission, she posted an upbeat update.
“Finished my Immunosuppressive Therapy yesterday and came through it with minimal adverse reactions! So thankful for my Nurses & Doctors here at Tampa General. They are a huge Blessing! Now we wait for my body to fix my immune system and regenerate my bone marrow. I should be able to go home by the end of next week and get to start Physical Therapy and the rest of my healing journey!”
She added that she expected to keep followers updated on her recovery, writing, “After I am transplanted, the donor cells will start rebuilding my immune system. It will take several months to start getting back to where I was before however, I will be back better than ever! I am looking forward to new beginnings after transplant and a speedy healing process!”
Mack, a Bradenton, Florida native, starred at IMG Academy and was a 2022 USA Today High School Sports Player of the Year nominee, according to her Holy Cross bio. She began her college career at Cincinnati, appearing in two matches, before transferring to Eastern Kentucky, where she played in 29 matches and started 26 last season.
She announced her transfer to Holy Cross in May, posting a beach photo of herself in a purple hoodie holding a school pennant. “I am so incredibly blessed and excited to announce that I will continue my academic and athletic career at College of the Holy Cross! I’m so thankful for everyone who has been a part of my journey and I can’t wait for this new opportunity! Go Crusaders!!” she wrote at the time.
D1 Training Hardin Valley, a training facility where Mack had worked out for years, posted a tribute following her death.
“Our D1 family is heartbroken by the loss of Amanda Mack. Amanda trained with Cory for years, and anyone who shared the gym with her knew the joy and positive energy she brought into it. She approached every session with a phenomenal attitude and left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her. Amanda will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always a part of our D1 family. Please keep Amanda’s family, friends, teammates, and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
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