Hayden Panettiere opens up about the sudden death of only sibling Jansen

When Hayden Panettiere's younger brother passed away suddenly due to an undetected heart issue last year, she mentioned that it felt like a part of her was gone.

"He was my one and only brother, and I felt it was my responsibility to keep him safe," she shared with People in a piece released on September 18. "Losing him felt like losing a part of myself."

Panettiere, 35, shared that following her brother's passing, her body responded in a manner she had never experienced before.

"In just a few days, I really started to swell up," she explained, noting that factors like "stress and cortisol" can lead to physical changes in the body.

The transformations in her life, along with the constant attention from the paparazzi, caused her to feel reluctant to step outside.

"I was confronted with disturbing paparazzi images of myself leaving Jansen's funeral, which took place in a very intimate setting, and it took me by surprise," she shared. "It triggered my agoraphobia, a condition I've battled before."

She explained that it all combined to lower her self-confidence.

"I didn’t have the confidence to dress up and go outside, but I realized that I had to step out and stay active, or I would just continue feeling and looking like this," she shared.

She said, "It turned into a harmful cycle of questioning whether I felt good enough to go out."

The actress from "Bring It On: All or Nothing" eventually realized she wanted to reenter the workforce. She mentioned that everything shifted for her when her publicist connected her with her personal trainer.

"My body began to respond not only to the exercise but also to the emotional release it brought. It helped me let go of the stress and the unrealistic standards I had always imposed on myself," she shared.

As she looks forward to the premiere of her upcoming movie, "Amber Alert," she shared that she will never completely recover from the loss of her brother.

"I'm going to carry this heartbreak with me forever. I just can't seem to move on," she expressed. "Even as time passes, I know I won't be able to overcome the pain of losing him."

What Happened To Jansen Panettiere?

Jansen Panettiere passed away on February 19, 2023, due to an enlarged heart, according to a statement from his family to TODAY.com.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of our beloved Jansen," the statement read. "While this information provides little comfort, the Medical Examiner has determined that Jansen's sudden death was caused by an enlarged heart, along with issues related to the aortic valve."

Cardiomegaly, which refers to an enlarged heart, isn't a disease on its own; instead, it indicates the presence of another health issue, as noted by the Mayo Clinic. Damage to the heart and various forms of heart disease can lead to this condition, according to their findings.

The Panettiere family didn’t provide details about the specific reason for his condition, but mentioned that he experienced issues with his aortic valve.

According to the Mayo Clinic, these issues can arise when the aorta, which is the primary artery responsible for transporting blood from the heart to the rest of the body, does not work effectively.

In a heartfelt statement, his family shared, "You could see the essence of Jansen in his expressive eyes and the charm in his radiant, captivating smile. His soul shone through in his skillful and insightful artwork, while his sense of humor reflected a love for life. His charisma, kindness, empathy, and artistic energy will always remain in our memories and in the hearts of everyone he met."

"The family expressed their heartfelt gratitude for all the love and support they've received while coping with this unimaginable loss. They kindly request some privacy as they mourn. 'We love you dearly, Jansen, and you will always hold a place in our hearts.'"

Jansen Panettiere was said to be 28 years old when he passed away. TODAY.com was unable to verify his age on its own.

He performed with his sister in films such as “Tiger Cruise” and “Racing Stripes,” and also appeared in “Ice Age: The Meltdown” as well as the AMC series “The Walking Dead.”

Around a month prior to his passing, he shared a black-and-white photo on Instagram of his older sister fixing his hair.

"She's attempted to cut my hair before," he wrote alongside the picture.

Anna Kaplan works as a news and trending reporter for TODAY.com.