Mama June Shannon and Her Kids Say They're 'Dysfunctional' but 'Are All We Have Left' After Anna's Death (Exclusive)

In December 2023, Anna died surrounded by her friends and family after fighting stage 4 cancer

Mama June was reunited with all her of her four daughters for the first time in SIX years as the entire realty TV family got together for a baby shower.
(L-R) June Shannon, Lauryn Efrid, Jessica Shannon, Anna Cardwell and Alana Thompson. Photo:

The Mega Agency

 Mama June Shannon and her daughters Alana "Honey Boo Boo" ThompsonLauryn "Pumpkin" Efird and Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon are leaning on each other now more than ever.

When Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell died from stage 4 cancer in December 2023, the family made a point to put their personal issues aside and band together for her final days. Though Anna is no longer with them, Mama June and her girls have stuck together through thick and thin.

"We are dysfunctional," Lauryn exclusively tells PEOPLE during a sit down with her family members. "But we were saying earlier too though, it is always kind of just been us. So regardless of all the hardships and the arguing and all that stuff, we are all we have left."

Pumkin Shannon (aka Lauryn Efird) posts family photo of late sister Anna Chickadee Cardwell
Anna Cardwell's family visit her in the hospital.

Lauryn Efird/ Instagram

Despite the ups and downs they've faced throughout the years, Mama June adds that it's "always" just been her and the girls.

"Their fathers haven't been involved and stuff like that," she explains. "So if today, [my husband] Justin [Stroud] left me, Josh left Pumpkin, Dralin left her, Cheyenne left her, we would all have to move in the same house with the babies and we would just do life."

"This is Justin's favorite saying, 'I've never seen a family like this.' We can argue sitting right here and in an hour later we're calling each other and talking like nothing ever happened," she adds.

Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell
Anna Cardwell. Anna Cardwell/Instagram

On the June 28 episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, Anna's condition took a dramatic turn and Mama June called her hospice nurse to check her vitals. After taking her pulse and other tests, the health care professional confirmed that Anna was "transitioning" and would soon die following her cancer journey.

After her tragic passing, Anna's family members grew emotional and recalled the moment she took her final breath.

In a video message, Mama June revealed that Anna died "peacefully" and had "won her battle because Anna's no longer suffering."

"We were all just sitting there talking," Alana said in a video of her own. "And she took her last breath. I really wish she could have seen me graduate but that'll be okay because she's watching over me."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Mama June: Family Crisis airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on WEtv.

Related Articles