Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell died on December 9 at age 29. Fans followed her final months and the Mama June star refused to stop filming even as she knew that her life was coming to an end. After her death. her husband Eldridge Toney explained why Chickadee kept filming at the end of her life.
Here is what Toney said about Chicakdee’s final months and what was important to her.
The reason Chickadee kept filming in her final months
According to Eldridge Toney, his late wife, Anne “Chickadee” Cardwell decided to film her family’s TV show in the final months of her life. This was not something pushed onto her, but was something that she actively chose to do. She also did it for a very good reason. According to Toney, Chickadee wanted to bring awareness to her disease.
Chickadee had a rare type of cancer, and one that there is very little known about right now. Toney said that Chickadee wanted more people to know about this form of cancer and even asked that her final days be filmed for the TV show. “That’s what she wanted,” he said (via PEOPLE). Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January after she began experiencing stomach pain.
Adrenal cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the outer layer of the adrenal gland. This is often caused by certain genetic conditions and symptoms include pain in the abdomen or back. When this reaches stage four, the tumor has likely spread to lymph nodes and possibly the lungs, bones, or peritoneum.
Fans watched Cardwell grow up thanks to Toddlers & Tiaras, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and Mama June: Family in Crisis.
Anna Cardwell’s cancer played out for fans on TV
Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell hopes that showing her final days on her family’s TV show will raise awareness of her disease. Chickadee leaves behind two kids and she was trying to have a third child when she learned about her cancer. Anna said she had suffered four miscarriages in her life and her most recent came just a month before her cancer diagnosis.
Despite her cancer, Anna showed up on Mama June: Family Crisis to try to help her mom. None of the other girls were speaking to June and Anna was there to attempt to bring the family together. She was there for June for her bridal shower, and it was clear she was in pain from her recent surgery. June later announced she was moving back to Georgia to be with Anna in her final months.
What are your thoughts on Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell filming for her family’s show in the final months of her life? Do you think it might help raise awareness of her rare cancer and help others? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
