The Lakewood community is mourning the loss of Malakai Kemp, who passed away this week after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was 17 years old.
“With a heart beyond broken, I share the news that my precious son, Malakai Aaron Kemp, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 5:11 p.m.,” his mother, Anna Kemp, wrote on their Caring Bridge website. “Kai bravely endured much suffering during these many months of treatment. But because he had trusted in Christ as his Savior, he is now without pain, fully healed, and fully alive.”
Malakai’s fight began earlier this year when he started experiencing unexplained fatigue and severe body pain. After weeks of uncertainty and testing, doctors confirmed the heartbreaking diagnosis: leukemia.
The news stunned everyone who knew him. A lifelong athlete and gifted student, Malakai grew up in Lakewood and was known for his easy smile, musical talent, and genuine compassion for others. As a pitcher for the Lakewood Lancers baseball team, he was a leader on the mound and a loyal friend in the dugout; never losing sight of his dream to return to the field with his teammates.
“We are drowning in grief and are so overwhelmed,” Anna Kemp said in a message to the 562. “And at the same time blessed by the outpouring of love and support that have shown what an incredible boy he was. He touched everyone he ever met and left his mark on this world in the short time he was here.”
On Wednesday night, a group gathered at the East Long Beach Pony baseball field for prayer and a moment of silence in Malakai’s honor and last week the Lakewood community came together at the campus auditorium to pray for strength and healing as Malakai’s fight grew more difficult.
Even in his toughest days, he stayed connected to his teammates, who became his biggest supporters. Some members of the Lancers baseball team shaved their heads in solidarity, visited him during hospital stays and dedicated their season to their teammate and friend earlier this year.
Despite enduring months of chemotherapy and briefly entering remission, Malakai’s cancer returned in late summer. His family had been preparing for a bone marrow transplant when new test results revealed that the leukemia had evolved, forcing doctors to pursue another treatment path.
Through it all, Malakai faced every setback with quiet resilience and unwavering faith. His parents described long days of hospital visits, heartbreaking news, and a hope that never fully faded.
“We are crushed and so tired,” Anna wrote in September. “But we are still believing for healing, still praying for peace, and still trusting that God has a plan for Kai.”
Now, as the Lakewood community grieves, they also remember the light Malakai brought into their lives -the determination, kindness, and courage that inspired everyone around him.
Plans for a memorial service have yet to be announced, but we will update as information comes available.
