“I’m so glad you waited until I got home to take your last breath!” Thompson wrote about her sister, who died Saturday night at the age of 29 after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in January
Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson opens up about losing her sister.
On Sunday, Thompson’s mother, reality star Mama June Shannon, announced the sad news on Instagram that her oldest daughter, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, had died after being diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal cancer in January. She was 29 years old.
To pay tribute to her sister, Thompson, 18, posted a touching tribute to Cardwell on Instagram on Sunday, as she recalled her final moments with her.
“This is one post I wish I didn’t have to make 💔,” Thompson began her emotional message. “Last night we all surrounded Anna with love and let her know it was okay to go. Unfortunately around 11pm Anna breathed her last. 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 because my heart is completely broken.”
Thompson went on to say how difficult it was for her to see Cardwell face cancer.
“Watching my 29 year old sister fight this horrible disease this year has not been easy. Anna was a fighter and still is. God, please hug her 2 babies and our family because the next few days are going to make everything real 🥹 ” she wrote, referring to Cardwell’s two daughters, Kaitlyn Elizabeth, born in 2012, and Kylee Madison, born in 2015.
“I’m so glad you waited until I got home to take your last breath!” Thompson continued. “I wish you could see me graduate from college, but I know you’ll be cheering me on forever in heaven!”
The Here comes Honey Boo Boo the star then took the moment to share her vow to keep Cardwell’s memory alive in her heart.
“We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever,” she wrote. “And I promise I’ll always make sure we celebrate our birthday like you never left! Heaven looks a little different today. We’ll always love you Anna 💔. You hit me hard with his one Anna but I know you’re in a better place now and forever no pain!”
Mom June Shannon’s 4 Daughters: Everything You Need to Know
Thompson and Cardwell’s 27-year-old sister, Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, also posted an Instagram message following Cardwell’s death.
“It hurts everyone so say this but we lost @annamarie35 last night! It’s hard to imagine my sister is gone she was so young and had a bright future here. She will always be with us and we already love and miss her!!” she wrote before asking her followers to keep her family in their thoughts.
“Keep our family and her two sweet babies in your prayers!! Anna, I love you and just know we have Katilyn and Kylee for you, we will be taken care of,” she added.
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Cardwell’s aunt Jo Shannon also took to Instagram about the loss of her niece. “It is with heavy hearts that we as a family have to announce the death of @annamarie35 Anna Marie Cardwell,” she wrote, alongside a photo of herself and her niece and a shot of Cardwell’s family.” She passed away last night with her family around her and had a peaceful and loving transition. Heaven gained an angel and was greeted by all her loved ones who had passed before her,” she continued. “Pray for her husband, children and the rest of the family as we go through these few days. She loved her fans and all the love you showed her during this difficult process.”
In her own post, Mama June, 44, praised Cardwell’s bravery amid her cancer diagnosis and promised to keep fans updated. “She fought one hell of a fight for 10 months and died with her family around her as she won’t and we will update you with more information as we get it today,” she wrote in part.
Mom June Shannon; Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell.
Getty; Anna Cardwell/Tik Tok
Cardwell’s death comes after her mother posted a plea on Instagram on Friday, asking her followers to pray for her family. “We are all asking for prayers for our family as we go through this process, we really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers and will let you know when we can just know all your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated at this time,” she wrote is Mama June, adding the hashtag “#CancerSucks.”
Cardwell was diagnosed with cancer when doctors discovered cancer in her lungs, liver and kidneys following a series of tests after she complained of stomach pains. She began her first round of chemotherapy in March, and two months later shared an encouraging update about how she was doing during treatment.
Mom June Shannon returns to Georgia to be with her daughter Anna during her cancer treatment
In an Instagram post dated May 10, she revealed that she is in the middle of her third round of chemotherapy.
“This one [was] yesterday,” she wrote alongside a selfie with her boyfriend, Eldridge Toney. “It was a pretty good day but it got a little off and Cracker Barrel was good going down but not on fire 😂 but all in all it’s going well and the chemo is working , we come to find so that things look good.”
Later that month, Cardwell shared photos of herself with her daughters on Facebook as the family celebrated a special milestone together — Kaitlyn’s elementary school graduation.
“Right now I’m one proud mom,” she wrote at the time. “I also can’t believe I’m going to have a middle schooler and a sophomore. Give me a minute while I go cry my eyes out. I’m so proud of my girls and everything they’ve accomplished.”
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