Kenzie’s Story

From the first time we read a book to Kenzie, she was hooked! She spent countless hours reading to learn or just to escape reality. In the short 22 years of her life, she absorbed as much information as possible. She worked hard throughout her school years being a straight A student and graduating with distinction from Kansas University in 2017.

Kenzie’s compassion, combined with her dream of practicing medicine, was one of the things that made her special. She was accepted into KU Medical School and well on her way of fulfilling her dreams in becoming Dr. Payne. She was just weeks away from receiving her white coat at The Class of 2022 White Coat Ceremony when she was tragically taken from us. On June 26, 2018, Kenzie’s ex-boyfriend entered her apartment and viciously took her life.

“The medial class of 2022 lost the opportunity to learn, collaborate and develop as physicians alongside Mackenzie; the medical school lost a bright and talented student before she was able to begin. The many patients’ lives she would have touched lost a future compassionate physician.” – Robert D Simari, Executive Vice Chancellor of KU Med

Our life will forever be changed, we will always be a broken family but with Payne’s Promise, we strive to keep Mackenzie’s memory alive and continue to help others achieve their dreams in her name.