A woman who bravely battled cancer for most of her life has passed away at the age of 51. Pandora Cooper-Key, known as the sister of a famous actress and model, faced her illness with courage and humor until the very end.
Pandora’s fight with cancer spanned 24 years. She was the daughter of Mrs. Esmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, and she had ten siblings, including her half-sister, the well-known actress and model Cressida Bonas. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Pandora lived her life with remarkable resilience.
Pandora was a talented ceramicist and once worked as an accessories designer for the iconic fashion brand Vivienne Westwood. Throughout her health struggles, she often spoke about her family’s plans for her funeral, showing her ability to face her challenges with a light-hearted attitude.
Even after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at the end of last year, she continued to hope for recovery through immunotherapy.
Pandora’s battle with cancer began when she was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare form of breast cancer, at just 26 years old. Despite the severity of the illness, Pandora fought through it and was able to have her first child about ten years later. However, just weeks after giving birth, she was hit with more devastating news: doctors found a sarcoma in her left eye.
Sarcomas are extremely rare and aggressive tumors, with only a few thousand cases reported annually in the UK. Pandora underwent surgery to remove her tear duct, and doctors gave her a grim prognosis—just ten months to live.
But Pandora wasn’t ready to give up. She fought hard for several more years, enduring eight surgeries to remove tumors and numerous procedures to reconstruct her face.
She lost the muscles on one side of her face, relying on Botox to maintain symmetry. In her typical candid style, Pandora joked in a 2021 interview with The Times, “I’m the only girl in town who gets it free.”
Pandora’s health took a turn for the worse last year when doctors discovered an inoperable tumor in her brain. She explained to Femail that surgery wasn’t an option because the tumor was too close to critical blood vessels, saying, “They’d have to go through blood vessels, which was too risky.”
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 a difficult period, which included Harry’s infamous incident in Las Vegas.
Despite their breakup, Cressida remained on good terms with Harry and attended his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018, alongside another of Harry’s ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy.
Tributes and Legacy
Pandora’s obituary painted a picture of a beloved woman whose life touched many. She was described 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.”
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, the Director of Communications at Sarcoma UK, paid tribute to Pandora’s bravery in sharing her story, which helped raise awareness about sarcoma and the struggles faced by patients.
“Being honest about her journey helped bring important attention to sarcoma and the problems patients face,” Reeves-Kneip said. Pandora’s efforts to raise awareness left a lasting impact, and her kindness and strength touched the lives of many.
In honor of Pandora’s legacy, Sarcoma UK plans to continue its mission with renewed determination. “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 impact Pandora made in raising awareness for sarcoma and supporting others will always be remembered and appreciated.
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