‘Lifelong warrior’: Monica Smirk, mum of ‘miracle girl’ Milli, dies after cancer battle

Three years after the tragic death of Perth teenager Amelia ‘Milli’ Lucas, her family have confirmed the devastating passing of another beloved family member.

The mother of Perth teenager, Amelia ”Milli” Lucas, who died after a four-year battle with brain cancer, has tragically lost her own battle with the disease.

Monica Smirk, whose daughter Milli was diagnosed with an inoperable brain cancer in 2019, died after her fourth cancer diagnosis of terminal melanoma, shortly after being diagnosed with terminal tumours on her back in 2022.

Monica Smirk has tragically died following her fourth cancer diagnosis. Picture: Facebook

Her daughter Milli was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which was deemed inoperable in 2019, prompting the Perth family to raise $170,000 for controversial neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo to operate on the young girl, where he removed 98 per cent of the tumour.

Nicknamed “miracle girl” by the controversial neurosurgeon, the high-risk surgery prolonged Milli’s for a few years, before she succumbed to the terminal cancer in 2021.

Following her daughter’s devastating death in 2022, the WA mum was diagnosed with inoperable tumours on her back after a terminal melanoma diagnosis.

It was her fourth cancer diagnosis.

She told The Sunday Times she was caring for Milli in 2021 when she noticed the lumps on her back, but “couldn’t face” a biopsy result while caring for her sick daughter.

Amelia "Milli" Lucas with her parents Monica Smirk and Grant Lucas. Picture: Facebook

Her family confirmed Ms Smirk’s death on social media on Monday evening.

“Monica was surrounded by her beloved family, holding her, talking to her, loving her, as she took her final breath,” the statement read.

“This remarkable woman, with an insatiable quest for genuine love and kindness is now having one hell of a family reunion, dancing with her Milli, Blake, Beau, Wendy and Barry.

“Please allow Grant, Tess and Joel the space to sit in this immeasurable grief, as they honour their lifelong warrior, forever their greatest protector.

“Forever yours, forever ours, forever free.”

Milli Lucas with Neurosurgeon Charlie Theo. Picture: Team Millstar/Facebook

The family live with a rare an inherited mutation in their TP53 gene called Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which affects approximately 1000 people worldwide and making the risk of developing certain cancers much more likely.

In 2016, Milli’s sister Tess had a similar cancer diagnosis, which she survived but left her legally blind.

Ms Smirk is survived by her husband Grant, daughter Tess and son Joel.