Hayden Panettiere shared a touching post to honor her late brother Jansen on what would have been his 31st birthday.
The actress, 36, shared a photo of the siblings as children via Instagram on Thursday, September 25 alongside an emotional caption.
“My little brother Jansen would’ve turned 31 today. He was a remarkable human being. He was wise beyond his years and operated at a higher spiritual level than anyone I’ve ever met,” the Heroes alum wrote. “He was everything that is good and pure in this world. I miss him every single day but I know his spirit is always near, watching over and protecting me and my family. I love you to infinity and beyond J and we will be together again one day. #JansenPanettiere @jrpanettiere #littlebrothers”
Jansen died in 2023 from aortic valve complications from an enlarged heart. He was 28.
Hayden Panettiere Prays Brother Is ‘In a Beautiful Place’ After His Death
His family released a statement about his death in February 2023, confirming the cause and paying tribute to Jansen.
“Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications,” read a statement from Hayden, mother Lesley Vogel and father Skip Panettiere.
The family continued: “Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit. His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”
During an appearance on the Today show in 2024, Hayden spoke about her grief, sharing that she was still processing her brother’s death.
“I think it’s something that transforms over time,” she said on Today in September 2024.
“Maybe the five stages of grief is for people who have had a heartbreak or find out some bad news. Like, yes, there are five stages, but there’s so much more in between,” she said. “And when you lose somebody that you saw in all the important moments in your life, standing right next to you, it just rocks your world.”
Hayden Panettiere Honors Late Brother Jansen on His 29th Birthday
In another interview with People the same month, Hayden said grief over Jansen’s death caused her body to change due to “stress and cortisol.”
“I just ballooned out,” she told the outlet at the time, adding, “I didn’t feel confident to put on clothes and get out of the house, but I also knew that I needed to get out and keep moving or I’d never stop looking and feeling this way.”
