EXCLUSIVE: Mama June breaks her silence on the heartbreaking death of her 29-year-old daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ – opening up for the first time about her agonizing final days and how she ‘fought’ her cancer to the very end
Mama June has spoken out for the first time since the devastating death of her 29-year-old daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell.
The reality star, 44, who is best known for her appearances in Toddlers and Tiaras and later Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo, opened up to DailyMail.com about her tragic loss and described her daughter’s painful final days – and how she was doing children will deal with her death.
Anna, who left behind daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, 8, died of adrenal cancer on December 10 at the age of 29.
Mama June, whose real name is June Shannon, and the rest of the family have now detailed the day of her death from the home where her daughter spent her final days.
Mama June has spoken out for the first time since the death of her daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell
Anna, who was survived by daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, died on December 10 from adrenal cancer aged just 29
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Mama June revealed that Anna had been staying at her home in the days leading up to her death.
“She died in mine and Justin’s house. Eldridge, the girls and she lived there for three weeks and one day.
“I heard her screaming my name at night, heard her oxygen line going around… She wouldn’t keep her oxygen on for anything.”
The loving mother continued, “The day before she passed, Kaitlyn helped us give (Anna) medicine – and she only wanted to take it for Kaitlyn.
“The last things we all said in the last few days…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said I love you.”
Anna’s sister Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Efird, 24, added: ‘She fought to the end. By the end you could tell she was ready. She was ready.
“She fought as much as she could, so I told her, ‘It’s okay, everyone’s here.’
The mother of two died when the rest of her family ‘were all standing around her in the living room.’
Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January 2023 after complaining of stomach pain
Mama June, whose real name is June Shannon, and the rest of the family have now detailed the day of her death
Lauryn continued, “It definitely happened very quickly. It went from one to five years to ten months very quickly.”
When asked how Anna’s children were coping, Mama June explained, “I think Kaitlyn is still in shock. Unlike Kylee, Kaitlyn was there when Anna took her last breath.”
Lauryn added, “Everyone was screaming because we just didn’t really know what to do or anything.
‘I can’t imagine keeping me awake at night. I’m sure it must keep Kaitlyn up at night, but teenagers won’t say that. We always make sure to ask her how she is doing. If she’s okay, tell her it’s okay to cry.”
Discussing the impact of the loss, June said: ‘I have my good days, I have my bad days – certain things I’m going to do remind me of her…
‘We talk about her a lot. We all carry her with us.’
Lauryn added, “It sucks. Moving on in life and… her not being there really f*cks with you at the end of the day.”
But she said their focus now was on “keeping her memory alive for her children.”
“We always remind them, ‘Your mother loved you, your mother is always with you.’
The family said their focus now was on “keeping her memory alive” for Anna’s children. Pictured: Mama June with husband Justin and Anna’s daughter Kaitlyn
Anna underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer, but over the summer the From Not to Hot star revealed Anna’s cancer was terminal (pictured with husband Eldridge)
Mama June first announced Anna’s death in a heartbreaking Instagram post that read: “It is with breaking hearts that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us.”
Mama June first announced Anna’s death in a heartbreaking Instagram post that read: ‘It is with breaking hearts that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us.
“She passed away peacefully in my home last night at 11:12 p.m. She fought hard for ten months and died with her family around her…
“We love you all and continue to pray and think for our family (during) this difficult time,” she added.
The caption included a photo of Mama June and her family, including Anna, who sported short hair during her cancer treatments.
Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January 2023 after complaining of stomach pain.
The Mayo Clinic reports that adrenal carcinoma is a rare cancer that affects the adrenal glands in the kidneys.
The adrenal glands produce hormones that provide instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in the body.
She underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer, but over the summer the From Not to Hot star revealed that Anna’s cancer was terminal.
Mama June previously sat down with DailyMail.com to talk about the efforts she and Justin had made to help Anna during her treatment
The TV personality also confirmed that the mother-daughter duo had put aside their previous grievances to focus on Anna’s health battle.
Mama June had previously spoken to DailyMail.com about the efforts she and Justin had made to help Anna during her treatment.
She explained, “During the weeks she gets chemo, we take her to Atlanta. We stay there all week from Monday to Saturday to make sure she is close to the hospital if anything serious happens as it is a two hour drive away.
“So we’ll say it there and then we’ll take her back home. Then next week is kind of tough for her, so we’re going to stay in Georgia to make sure she doesn’t need anything.”
“Honestly, the people who have been there for her since she was diagnosed are me and Justin, Eldridge and the girls,” the mother said. “There is no other family that comes to sit with her during her treatments.”
The TV personality also confirmed that the mother-daughter duo had put aside their previous grievances to focus on Anna’s health battle.
The pair had been through an extremely fractured relationship – following Mama June’s public battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction in recent years.
But Mama June said the family had been arguing and undergoing counseling as she worked to repair her relationship with her daughters.