When Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed coronary heart situation final 12 months, the actor stated it was like shedding part of herself.

“He was my solely sibling, and it was my job to guard him,” she told people in an article revealed on Sept. 18. “After I misplaced him, I felt like I misplaced half of my soul.”

Panettiere, 35, stated that within the days after her brother’s demise, her physique reacted in a manner she had by no means seen earlier than.

“Inside days, I principally identical to ballooned — ballooned out,” she stated, including that “stress and cortisol” could make modifications to the physique.

The modifications, plus being adopted by the paparazzi, made her not need to depart her home.

“I needed to see horrific paparazzi footage of myself popping out of Jansen’s funeral, which occurred in a really personal place, and it was surprising,” she stated. “My agoraphobia got here out, which is one thing I’ve struggled with previously.”

All of it compounded into diminishing her vanity, she stated.

“I did not really feel assured to placed on garments and get out of the home, however I additionally knew that I wanted to get out and maintain shifting or I might by no means cease feeling and looking this manner,” she stated.

She added: “It grew to become a harmful hamster wheel of, do I really feel ok to exit?”

The “Convey It On: All or Nothing” star ultimately determined she needed to return to work, and he or she stated all the things modified when her publicist launched her to her private coach.

“My physique simply began reacting, not simply from the figuring out. It allowed me to launch the stress, the excessive expectations I might all the time placed on myself,” she stated.

Whereas she’s eagerly anticipating the discharge of her subsequent movie, “Amber Alert,” she stated she’s going to by no means totally heal from her brother’s demise.

“I’ll all the time be heartbroken about it. I’ll by no means have the ability to recover from it,” she stated. “Irrespective of what number of years go by, I’ll by no means recover from his loss.”

What occurred to Jansen Panettiere?

Jansen Panettiere died on Feb. 19, 2023, of an enlarged hearthis household stated in a press release to TODAY.com.

“It’s with nice sorrow we share the great, premature lack of our stunning Jansen,” the assertion stated. “Although it affords little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was as a result of cardiomegaly (enlarged coronary heart,) coupled with aortic valve issues.”

Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged coronary heart, just isn’t a illness itself, however is moderately an indication of one other situation, according to Mayo ClinicCoronary heart harm and sure varieties of coronary heart illness could cause an enlarged coronary heart, in response to Mayo Clinic.

The Panettiere household didn’t specify the underlying reason behind his situation, however stated he suffered from aortic valve issues.

These issues can happen when the aorta, the primary artery that carries blood from the center to the remainder of the physique, doesn’t perform correctly. according to Mayo Clinic,

“Jansen’s coronary heart could possibly be seen in his eyes, and his appeal in his sensible, partaking smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing work, and the enjoyment of life in his dry wit,” his household stated within the assertion. “His charisma, heat, compassion for others, and his artistic spirit will stay eternally in our hearts and within the hearts of all whom he encountered.”

“We sincerely respect the outpouring of affection and help in the direction of our household as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privateness throughout this time of mourning,” the household added. “We love you a lot Jansen and you may be in our hearts eternally.”

Jansen Panettiere was reported to be 28 on the time of his demise. TODAY.com couldn’t independently verify his age.

He acted alongside his sister within the motion pictures like “Tiger Cruise” and “Racing Stripes,” and in addition starred in “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and the AMC collection “The Strolling Useless.”