Mama June Shannon has faced more than her share of heartbreak, and her latest revelation about raising her granddaughter Kaitlyn following her daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s death is incredibly emotional. In an interview, Shannon shared how she stepped in to care for Kaitlyn, Anna’s 12-year-old daughter, after Anna tragically passed away from stage 4 adrenal carcinoma at age 29 on December 9.
Shannon reflected on the bittersweet journey of raising Kaitlyn, who had been living with her and her husband, Justin Stroud, before Anna’s passing. Kaitlyn’s fiery personality and striking similarities to Anna, from her attitude to the way she speaks, have brought comfort to Shannon as the family continues to cope with the loss. “If you want to know what Anna looked like as a teenager, Kaitlyn,” Shannon remarked, noting how much Kaitlyn reminds them of her late mother.
The grief of Anna’s death has been compounded by a challenging year, with the family enduring a custody battle over Kaitlyn, which Shannon eventually won in September. However, they faced another heartache when Anna’s ex-husband, Michael Cardwell, moved their younger daughter, Kylee, to Alabama, separating her from the rest of the family. While Kylee is now with her father, Shannon’s focus remains on providing Kaitlyn with a loving and stable home.
Despite the family’s struggles, Shannon is determined to honor Anna’s memory, including maintaining a relationship with Anna’s widower, Eldridge Toney. She said Anna would have wanted them to remain connected, so they involve him in family matters when possible.
Adjusting to life with Kaitlyn in the home has been a significant change for Shannon and Stroud, especially considering that their first year of marriage was child-free. As they navigate this adjustment, Shannon leans on her family for support, including her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon, who is now a mother of three.
The Shannon family’s dynamic, including Mama June’s journey as a mother to four children—Anna, Pumpkin, Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, and Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Shannon—has been well documented in their long-running TLC series. Through all the challenges, Shannon’s focus remains on keeping her family close and continuing to honor Anna’s legacy.