Hayden Panettiere breaks silence on younger brother's death

 Hayden Panettiere breaks silence on younger brother's death

Hayden Panettiere recently shared her grief in an emotional interview about the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. The Nashville star opened up to People magazine, speaking for the first time about Jansen’s sudden passing at the age of 28 due to an undiagnosed heart condition. "He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him," Hayden said. "When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul."

Jansen Panettiere's death last year occurred at a time when Hayden was making strides in her personal life, recovering from addiction and working on a career comeback. She had recently exited a turbulent on-and-off relationship with her ex and was on a path to sobriety following years of battling substance abuse. Hayden had undergone treatment in an inpatient rehab facility in 2020 and previously sought help during the filming of Nashville in 2015. By 2021, she had embraced a 12-step program and trauma therapy.

The tragic loss of her brother brought another wave of challenges, including an exacerbation of her agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that makes individuals fear situations where they feel trapped or helpless. "I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen's funeral, and that triggered my agoraphobia," Hayden shared. The condition left her feeling isolated, leading to significant weight gain and insecurity. However, she credits her personal trainer, Marnie Alton, with helping her recover. Alton’s support during their long walks gave Hayden an outlet to release her emotions and regain confidence.

Hayden Panettiere, who is also a mother to her daughter Kaya, said that her outlook on life has changed drastically since Jansen’s passing. "When something so catastrophic happens in your life, you really learn not to sweat the small stuff," she remarked. Despite this newfound perspective, she acknowledges that the pain of losing her brother will never fully heal. "I will always be heartbroken. No matter how much time passes, I’ll never get over his loss."

The Panettiere family revealed that Jansen’s sudden death was caused by cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart, compounded by aortic valve complications. Cardiomegaly can have several underlying causes, including high blood pressure, and while some individuals experience no symptoms, others may have shortness of breath or swelling in the abdomen or legs.

"It is with great sorrow we share the untimely loss of our beautiful Jansen," the family said in a statement, as they continue to mourn his unexpected passing.