Current:Home > MarketsMama June Shares Why Late Daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell Stopped Cancer Treatments -TradeGrid
Mama June Shares Why Late Daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell Stopped Cancer Treatments
View
Date:2025-04-14 04:35:44
June "Mama June" Shannon is reflecting on a difficult time for her family.
The reality star detailed the last months of her eldest daughter Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell's cancer battle and decision to enter hospice before she died in December at age 29.
"It was difficult watching her have to go through chemo," June told E! News in an exclusive interview. "Having to go through radiation and having to do immunotherapy, and then trying to get into hospice long before we actually could."
"It wasn't the fact that she was tired of fighting because even to her last day, she fought," the 44-year-old emphasized. "She was a feisty one even during her last days."
But June recognized the emotional and physical toll fighting stage 4 adrenal carcinoma was for Anna.
"I think she was just over it," she recalled, "and she just wanted to spend her last days doing what she wanted to do."
The Mama June: Family Crisis star—who is also mom to Jessica Shannon, Lauryn Efrid and Alana Thompson—admitted it was difficult convincing Anna's doctors to approve hospice care.
"Watching her try to say, 'Okay, I'm done with treatment, I just want to live the rest of my life the way I want to live it,'" June shared. "They wouldn't listen."
Anna—who was mom to Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, 8, the latter of whom she shared with ex Michael Cardwell—continued her pleas until doctors relented.
"She said, 'Okay, I'm just not coming back and I want to do home health hospice,' and they finally signed off," June explained. "We tried to for a long time before that."
In January, June and her husband Justin Stroud were granted temporary custody of Kaitlyn, who she said moved in with her a month before Anna died and that she's been caring for her since.
"I tell Kaitlyn all the time, 'I'll never replace your mother,'" she told E! News. "I say this all the time, but Kylee shouldn't have to be raised by Kylee's dad. I shouldn't be raising Kaitlyn. Anna should be here raising her children. It's not fair for any of us that Anna's gone, especially for her children."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (769)
Related
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Peso Pluma cancels Florida concerts post-Hurricane Milton, donates to hurricane relief
- Tour guide identified as victim who died in Colorado gold mine elevator malfunction
- Opinion: Texas proves it's way more SEC-ready than Oklahoma in Red River rout
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Starship launch: How to watch SpaceX test fly megarocket from Starbase in Texas
- Murder trial of tech consultant in death of Cash App founder Bob Lee begins
- Kamala Harris, Donald Trump face off on 'Family Feud' in 'SNL' cold open
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Ye accused of drugging, sexually assaulting ex-assistant at Diddy session
Ranking
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Wisconsin officials require burning permits in 13 counties as dry conditions continue
- Florida power outage map: More than 400,000 still in the dark in Hurricane Milton aftermath
- Ariana Grande Brings Back Impressions of Céline Dion, Jennifer Coolidge and More on SNL
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Surfer Bethany Hamilton Shares Update After 3-Year-Old Nephew's Drowning Incident
- Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown and Christine Brown Detail Their Next Chapters After Tumultuous Years
- Olympians Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Are Engaged
Recommendation
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
25 Shocking Secrets About Pulp Fiction Revealed
Members of the Kennedy family gather for funeral of Ethel Kennedy
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie to miss USMNT's game against Mexico as precaution
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Olympians Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Are Engaged
Marvin Harrison Jr. injury update: Cardinals WR exits game with concussion vs. Packers
Blaze that killed two Baltimore firefighters in 2023 is ruled accidental