Mama June Shannon is honoring the memory of her late daughter, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, on what would have been her 30th birthday. On August 28, the Mama June: Family Crisis star, 45, took to Instagram Stories to share her feelings of loss and grief, marking the milestone occasion.
Cardwell passed away in December 2023 at the age of 29, after being diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma earlier that year in January. The devastating loss has left a lasting impact on Shannon, who continues to find ways to keep her daughter’s memory alive.
On Instagram, Shannon reposted a touching video that addressed the deep sorrow felt by those who have lost loved ones. The video, which resonated with Shannon, expressed the difficulty of moving forward while still holding onto the memory of those who have passed. In the video, Shannon wrote, “Definitely how I feel some days as I miss [Anna] every day [and] today she turns 30.”
The video itself captured the raw emotions of grief, reading, “I miss you. I just miss you. I’m doing the best I can, I’m taking tiny, wobbly steps forward, but if you asked me how I’m doing…. I just really f—ing miss you.” It continued, “I get through days, but there’s always that place where you should be, a space that no amount of time or effort will ever fill.”
In a June interview with PEOPLE, Shannon opened up about how she has been coping with the loss of her daughter. She revealed that she carries Cardwell’s ashes in a bracelet, allowing her to feel close to her daughter at all times. “We very much still today, even six months later, keep her memory alive. For me, I personally have to talk about it all the time. She’s actually here with us today,” Shannon shared, pointing to the charm bracelet she wears. “She’s here. I always tote her around.”
Shannon also shared how she honors her daughter’s wishes by carrying her ashes with her. “That was her thing, that she wanted to be cremated and toted around, so I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s go, girl,’” she said, reflecting on the unexpected tragedy that has touched their family. “We never thought that we would have to lose somebody in our family. We didn’t think we was going to experience that ever in reality TV.”
Cardwell’s passing has left a void in the family, but Shannon’s tribute on what would have been her daughter’s 30th birthday shows that her memory continues to live on in the hearts of those who loved her most.