Following the tragic loss of her eldest daughter, Mama June Shannon is cherishing her remaining family more than ever.
The 44-year-old TLC star, known for her unconventional family dynamics, recently sat down with People magazine to discuss the impact of her daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s death from stage 4 adrenal cancer last December at the young age of 29.
“We are dysfunctional, but we stick together,” Shannon confessed. “It’s always been just us, and despite all the challenges and disagreements, we are all we have left.”
Mama June Shannon is leaning on her family after the loss of her eldest daughter
Chickadee’s mother shared the heartbreaking news of her passing on Instagram
Shannon, who has experienced her share of ups and downs with her children’s fathers, emphasized the unique bond she shares with her daughters, saying, “If today, [my husband] Justin [Stroud] left me, Josh left Pumpkin, Dralin left her, and Cheyenne left her, we would all move in together with the babies and continue life as a family.”
Stroud, her current husband, often remarks on the family’s dynamic nature, saying, “I’ve never seen a family like this.”
Shannon further explained that despite their differences, they always come back together, saying, “We can argue one minute and an hour later, we’re calling each other like nothing happened.”
Chickadee’s passing was announced by her mother on Instagram last December, where she shared the news with a heavy heart. “She passed away peacefully at home last night at 11:12 PM, surrounded by her family as she wanted,” Shannon wrote.
The final stages of Chickadee’s life, spent in hospice care, were documented in the family’s show, Mama June: Family in Crisis.
Mama June on the unique bond she shares with her daughters
Shannon on her journey as a single mother
Chickadee’s final hours were documented on the family’s show, Mama June: Family in Crisis
After Shannon was granted custody of Chickadee’s daughters, Kaitlyn Elizabeth, 11, and 8-year-old Kylee Madison, her ex-husband, Michael Cardwell, sued for custody of their daughter Kylee.
Mama June, a mother to four daughters, including Jessica Shannon, 27, Lauryn Efird, 24, and 18-year-old Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson, has always prioritized her children despite the challenges they’ve faced.
As they continue to grieve the loss of Chickadee, the family remains a source of strength and support for one another, navigating life’s trials with their unique brand of resilience and love.