A 51-year-old woman, who was the half-sister of a well-known actress and model, has sadly passed away after a long, brave battle with cancer.
Her name was Pandora Cooper-Key, and she faced more challenges in her life than most could ever imagine. Born to nobleman Esmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, Pandora was one of 11 siblings. Her half-sister, Anna Bonas, is famous in the world of acting and modeling. But Pandora’s story is one of incredible strength and perseverance.
Pandora’s fight with cancer began when she was just 26 years old, living in west London. She was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare type of cancer that affects the milk ducts. This was a terrifying diagnosis, but Pandora fought through it with everything she had and eventually won that battle.
About ten years later, Pandora had her first child, a moment of joy after such a long struggle. However, her happiness was short-lived when doctors discovered a sarcoma in her left eye. Sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors, with only a few thousand cases diagnosed each year in the UK.
After undergoing surgery to remove her tear duct, Pandora received a heartbreaking prognosis: she had only ten months to live. But Pandora wasn’t the type to give up easily. She defied the odds and fought the disease for several more years. Throughout this time, she endured eight surgeries to remove tumors and also had cosmetic procedures to rebuild her face.
The surgeries left her without muscles on one side of her face, so she needed Botox to keep her appearance symmetrical. In her usual witty way, she joked during a 2021 interview with The Times, “I’m the only girl in town who gets it free.”
As time went on, Pandora’s health challenges grew even more severe. She began experiencing intense seizures that sometimes left her incapacitated for days. Even after doctors successfully removed a tumor from her cheek, they discovered another one growing behind her nose.
By the end of last year, Pandora’s condition took a sharp downturn when she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She explained to Femail, “To operate, they’d have to go through blood vessels, which is not good.” The tumor’s location near critical blood vessels made surgery impossible.
Connections to the Royal Family
Pandora’s half-sister, Cressida Bonas, had close ties to the British Royal Family. In May 2012, Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Sarah Ferguson, introduced Cressida to Prince Harry. The couple dated until April 2014, but their relationship faced some challenges, especially after Harry’s infamous incident in Las Vegas.
Even after they broke up, Cressida remained close to Harry, attending his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018 alongside Chelsy Davy, another of Harry’s ex-girlfriends.
Legacy and Tributes
Pandora was not only known for her courageous fight against cancer but also for her artistic talents. She was a skilled ceramicist and had once been an accessories designer for the iconic fashion brand Vivienne Westwood. Despite her long battle with illness, Pandora’s sense of humor remained intact. She once quipped that her family had “planned her funeral thousands of times.”
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Pandora was a passionate advocate for cancer awareness, especially for sarcoma. Kerry Reeves-Kneip, the Director of Communications for Sarcoma UK, praised Pandora for her openness in sharing her journey. “Sharing her story so openly helped bring important attention to sarcoma and the problems patients face,” Reeves-Kneip said.
Pandora’s willingness to speak out about her experiences made a huge impact, helping to raise awareness and shine a light on the struggles faced by others with the disease.
Pandora’s obituary painted a loving picture of her life. She was remembered as the “beloved daughter of the late Edmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, adored mother of Bow and Nestor, much-loved sister of her two brothers and eight sisters, and devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews.” Her legacy of kindness, strength, and determination touched many lives.
In a heartfelt tribute, Kerry Reeves-Kneip expressed condolences on behalf of Sarcoma UK to Pandora’s family, which includes her mother, Lady Mary, her sister Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and everyone who loved her.
“Pandora made a huge difference for our organization and for other people with sarcoma. We will honor her by continuing our mission with renewed vigor at Sarcoma UK. Pandora’s kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit will forever remain in our hearts.”
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