Brooke Marsay: Tributes flow for a popular Coast prep teacher after her tragic death

Heartbroken friends and family are mourning a popular Sunshine Coast prep teacher who died days after giving birth, following a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy.

A heartbroken community is mourning the loss of a dedicated teacher, loyal friend and mother after a shock cancer diagnosis.

Much-loved Kawana Waters State College teacher Brooke Marsay died in hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday, days after giving birth to her first child, son Max, who tragically also passed away due to complications.

Mrs Marsay, 31, was being remembered as a woman who lit up a room and whose caring nature and interest in people’s lives left lasting impressions on everyone she met.

Her husband, Ryan, paid tribute to his late wife, describing her as the “strongest, most beautiful person you could ever want to meet”.

Brooke's husband, Ryan, said the pair had enjoyed a 'fairytale romance' before her tragic passing.

He said their lives together had been a “fairytale romance”, having met and fallen in love about two-and-a-half years ago, and he described his wife as a “real-life Disney princess”.

Within three weeks of their first date they were holidaying in Vanuatu and the pair were engaged within 12 months, before their fairytale wedding.

Mr Marsay said his wife fell pregnant on their honeymoon and “everything was perfect” until she began to suffer rib pains about 16 weeks into the pregnancy.

Two weeks later they went into hospital for a check-up to determine what was causing the pain.

A scan found lesions “all over” her liver and a tumour in her stomach.

The diagnosis was stage four bowel cancer.

Ryan Marsay said his wife, Brooke, carried herself with “pure grace” during her harrowing cancer battle.

Mr Marsay said his wife was admitted to hospital, where she remained for the next 65 days before her death earlier this week, after being transferred from the Coast to Brisbane before giving birth.

He said despite her “pretty horrific journey” she had carried herself with pure grace.

Mrs Marsay gave birth to son Max last Thursday and was able to hold her little boy, before he passed away 24 hours later after complications, having been born at 27 weeks.

Tributes have poured out for the popular teacher in the wake of her passing.

One of her best friends, Jen Brown, said she’d been lucky enough to have Mrs Marsay as a “soul sister”.

“She was one of the most gorgeous people you’d come across – inside and out – and she was so blissfully unaware of how gorgeous she was which made her even more so,” Ms Brown said.

“She was full of sunshine and warmth and lighting up the lives of many.

“Brookey had the ability to make everyone she’d meet feel comfortable.”

Coast teacher Brooke Marsay.

Kawana Waters State College acting executive principal Michael Ward said Mrs Marsay had enjoyed a “special” relationship with students and their families, having served as a Prep and Year 1 teacher since 2015.

“Our thoughts are with her family and her husband,” Mr Ward said.

“She is well-known and greatly loved across both campuses of the college.

“She made a significant contribution to the lives of many children in her career as an education professional.”

Ms Brown said she was just one of many of Mrs Marsay’s close friends who all shared the same love of their friend.

A shot from the couple’s dream wedding day.

“She was the kind of friend who’d ask the hard questions, delving into your feelings and she had the ability to make even friends she’d only just met open up to her, due to her open, caring nature and genuine interest in your life,” Ms Brown said.

Mr Marsay said his wife, a former Siena Catholic College student, was “literally an angel walking on this earth” and he couldn’t praise the efforts of Sunshine Coast University Hospital doctors and nurses enough.

“There was just no sign,” he said.

“She was just such a beautiful, caring person.”

Mr Marsay said a funeral service would be held on the Sunshine Coast, with details to come once arrangements had been finalised.