Ashlee Colmer, 28, loses short battle with leukaemia less than two months after diagnosis

Ashlee Colmer was sick for six weeks with what she thought was a bad case of the flu. She went to hospital, was never discharged and died less than two months later.

Ashlee Colmer was only 28 years old when she died unexpectedly soon after, being diagnosed with leukaemia. Here with mum Lisa. Picture: Supplied by family

There will still be online orders arriving for Ashlee Colmer at her Nuriootpa home.

Only the 28-year-old will not be there to collect them after she lost her brave fight with leukaemia.

Diagnosed with t-cell leukaemia on November 26, 2023, Ashlee died less than two months later on January 10 leaving her family devastated.

“She was so brave, putting optimism and hope right up here, talking about remission, future plans,” her cousin Megan Atze told The Advertiser.

Ashlee nor her family expected her fight to be so short.

Ashlee Colmer with her husband Brayden at their Angaston wedding. Picture: Supplied by family

Ashlee Colmer, who died unexpectedly soon after being diagnosed with leukaemia, with her father Kevin. Picture: Supplied by family

Ashlee, who was a nail tech artist, had been sick with what she thought was the flu for six weeks, stuck at home in bed.

She decided to go to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where doctors discovered she had blood cancer.

“She never got discharged,” Ms Atze said. “(She had) lots of tests, blood transfusions, chemo.”

Ashlee decided to shave her head herself.

“I will always remember her sense of humour, her giggle, her ability to gossip, joke, laugh while sick in a hospital bed,” her 41-year-old cousin said.

“I (saw) her one week prior, (she was) still eating, drinking, talking, laughing, making jokes and most importantly, still online shopping.”

Ashlee with brother Ben and mum Lisa. Picture: Supplied by family

She loved colouring in and arts and crafts. Ashlee with her husband Brayden. Picture: Supplied by family

The young woman was extremely family oriented, always spending time with her brother, parents, grandparents and cousins.

She married her husband Brayden on October 30, 2021 in Angaston.

“Her marriage with Brayden was really strong,” Ms Atze said. “He spent lots of nights with her in the hospital.”

When Ashlee wasn’t working she loved to bake, making specialty cakes and selling them.

“(She) loved decorating her house with plants and crystals (and) catching up with friends,” Ms Atze said.

Ashlee Colmer with nana Margaret and mum Lisa at her 2021 wedding. Picture: Supplied by family

Ashlee began working as a nail tech from her home, running Magnolia Nails and Beauty before she decided to rent a spot at Barossa Lash and Nails Beauty Bar.

She was a graduate from Adelaide Beauty Academy where she became certified in lash curl, lift and tint, spray tanning, professional makeup and facials.

Whenever her cousin Ms Atze thinks of Ashlee she thinks of her as a child.

“(She had) lots of blonde hair and was mischievous,” she said.

“As she got older she was my little drinking buddy at family events and we would get in trouble.”

Ashlee was born April 2, 1996 and died January 1, 2024. She was 28.

She is survived by her husband Brayden, father Kevin, mother Lisa, stepfather Duane, brother Ben and extended family.

If you’d like to donate to her family to pay for her memorial, you can here.