A brave woman who battled cancer for most of her life has passed away at the age of 51. Pandora Cooper-Key, who was the sister of a well-known actress and model, fought against the disease with remarkable courage and resilience.
Pandora’s fight against cancer lasted 24 long years, and even after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, she never gave up hope. She was the daughter of Mrs. Esmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, and she was one of ten siblings, including her half-sister, the actress and model Cressida Bonas.
Pandora was a talented ceramicist and had once worked as an accessories designer for the famous fashion house Vivienne Westwood. She was known for her strength and humor, even in the face of her illness. Pandora often joked with her family about their plans for her funeral, showing her ability to face her health battles with a light heart.
Even when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the end of last year, she remained hopeful, undergoing immunotherapy in the hope of a recovery.
Pandora’s journey with cancer began at the young age of 26 when she was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare form of breast cancer that affects the milk ducts. Despite the severity of the illness, Pandora fought through it and managed to have her first child about ten years later. But just weeks after giving birth, she was hit with another devastating diagnosis—a sarcoma in her left eye.
Sarcomas are incredibly rare and aggressive tumors, with only a few thousand cases reported each year in the UK. Pandora underwent surgery to remove her tear duct, and doctors gave her just ten months to live.
But Pandora wasn’t one to back down. She fought hard for several more years, enduring eight surgeries to remove tumors and various procedures to reconstruct her face.
As a result of the surgeries, she lost the muscles on one side of her face and had to rely on Botox to maintain symmetry. Despite it all, she kept her sense of humor, telling The Times in 2021, “I’m the only girl in town who gets it free.”
Last year, her health took another turn for the worse when doctors discovered an inoperable tumor in her brain. Pandora explained to Femail that surgery wasn’t an option because the tumor was too close to important blood vessels. “They’d have to go through blood vessels, which is too risky,” she said.
Connections to the Royal Family
Pandora’s half-sister, Cressida Bonas, had a close connection to the British Royal Family. In May 2012, Cressida was introduced to Prince Harry by Princess Eugenie. The couple dated for a while but parted ways in April 2014 after Harry faced a tough time, including the infamous Las Vegas incident.
Despite their breakup, Cressida remained on good terms with Harry and attended his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018, alongside his other ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.
Tributes and Legacy
Pandora’s obituary described her 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.”
In a statement, Kerry Reeves-Kneip, the Director of Communications at Sarcoma UK, praised Pandora for her bravery in sharing her story, which helped raise awareness about sarcoma and the challenges faced by those diagnosed with the disease.
“Being honest about her journey helped bring important attention to sarcoma and the problems patients face,” Reeves-Kneip said.
Pandora’s impact went far beyond raising awareness; her kindness and strength touched many lives, and Sarcoma UK is determined to honor her by continuing their mission with renewed energy. “Pandora’s kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit will forever remain in our hearts,” Reeves-Kneip added.
Condolences
Our deepest condolences go out to Pandora’s family, including her mother, Lady Mary, her sister, Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and everyone who loved her. The difference Pandora made in the lives of those affected by sarcoma will always be remembered and appreciated.
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