Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, daughter of reality TV star “Mama June” Shannon and half-sister to “Honey Boo Boo” Alana Thompson has died after a ten month battle with adrenal cancer.
“With the breaking heart, we are announcing that [Anna] is no longer with us,” the post read. “She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM. She gave one hell of a fight.”
“We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family during this difficult time.”
“Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace now. I really don’t know what to say as my heart is completely broken. Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasn’t been easy.”
She thanked her half-sister for waiting to take her last breath until she got home.
“I promise to always make sure to celebrate our birthday like you never left!” she added.
“Some things have changed in our lives over the last few weeks that are totally out of our control,” she said, adding that all hope was gone and that this would be her last message as they were going to the transition. She apologized that she would not be replying to messages on social media until “that time” comes.
“We’re spending this time as a family and enjoying our moments and making memories. We love you guys, and we’ll see you soon.”
Ms. Cardwell is survived by her two young daughters, Kaitlyn and Kylee. According to a spokesperson for the family, she passed away on Kylee’s birthday.
The family shared in May 2023 that Ms. Cardwell had gone to the hospital over back pains in August 2022, where doctors found a cyst and removed it. However, in January she was diagnosed with a “very rare and very aggressive” cancer. According to Ms. Shannon, the cancer had spread to Ms. Cardwell’s liver, spleen, and lungs by that time.
Ms. Cardwell was the eldest daughter of the Shannon family, known for their appearances in multiple reality TV shows. She first appeared with her family in “Toddlers & Tiaras” and later starred in “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, adrenal cancer is a “rare cancer that begins in one or both of the small, triangular glands (adrenal glands) located on top of your kidneys.” The adrenal glands produce hormones that regulate virtually every organ and tissue in the body.
Adrenal cancer is most likely to occur in children younger than 5 and adults in their 40s and 50s. Symptoms are unusual and diverse, ranging from nausea and vomiting to excess facial hair or, conversely, hair loss in women, enlarged breast tissue and shrinking testicles in men, unusual weight gain or weight loss, back pain, etc.
“When adrenal cancer is found early, there is a chance for cure. But if the cancer has spread to areas beyond the adrenal glands, cure becomes less likely,” the Mayo Clinic said.
