Anna Cardwell.Photo:Anna Cardwell/Instagram;
Anna Cardwell/Instagram;
Eldridge Toneyis giving insight on his late wifeAnna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s decision tofilm her family’s television show during the final months of her life.
Toney tells PEOPLE that Cardwell — who wasdiagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinomain January anddiedon Dec. 9 at age 29 — wanted to share her story to bring awareness to the disease.
“The filming was something that Anna wanted to do,” he says. “She wanted to bring awareness to her rare type of cancer because there is still so much unknown about it and it is very rare.”
Anna Cardwell and Eldridge Toney.Anna Cardwell Instagram
Anna Cardwell Instagram
Cardwell’s loved ones echoed Toney’s sentiment at herfuneral on Wednesday, saying that her final days were filmed for their family’s show because “that’s what she wanted.”
Cardwell previously appeared alongside her family on TLC’sToddlers & TiarasandHere Comes Honey Boo Boo. She and her family have more recently appeared on WE tv’sMama June: Family in Crisis.
Of the crew members, her loved ones told PEOPLE at the funeral that they consider them “friends and family.” They attended the service on Wednesday as guests and were not filming the service for the show, PEOPLE confirmed.
Cardwell’s motherMama June Shannonconfirmed her death Dec. 10 onInstagram.
“With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM,” Shannon, 44, wrote next to a family photograph. The family matriarch noted that Cardwell “passed away with her family around her” and thanked fans for their “continued prayers and thoughts.”
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The 18-year-old continued, “Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasn’t been easy. Anna was a fighter & still is. Lord please wrap your arms around her 2 babies & our family as the next couple of days will make this all a reality 🥹 I’m so glad that you waited til I was home to take your last breath! I would’ve loved for you to get to see me graduate college but I know you will forever cheer me on in heaven!”
“We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever,” she concluded. “And I promise to always make sure to celebrate our birthday like you never left! The sky looks a little bit different today. We will always love you Anna 💔. You hit me hard with his one Anna but I know your in a better place now and pain free forever!”
source: people.com
