The death of Hayden Panettiere at age 36 has sparked an outpouring of sympathy. In the wake of her passing, many are reflecting on her relationship with her daughter, Kaya, who was born in 2014 during Panettiere’s relationship with Wladimir Klitschko.

Despite the physical distance between them, the actress described her bond with her daughter as exceptionally close just months before her death. At the same time, their relationship was shaped by some of the most difficult periods of Panettiere’s life. After giving birth, she struggled with postpartum depression and addiction, experiences that profoundly affected her early years as a mother, according to Page Six.

Hayden Panettiere Became a Mother to Kaya in 2014

Kaya was born in Hawaii on December 9, 2014, more than a year after Panettiere and Klitschko became engaged. In a later interview with E! News, the actress recalled the dramatic circumstances surrounding her C-section.

She experienced severe bleeding and required several blood transfusions, at one point fearing for her own life. Looking back, Panettiere said that all she cared about in those moments was hearing her daughter cry and knowing that she was safe.

Postpartum Depression Changed Those Early Days

Four months after giving birth, Panettiere was diagnosed with postpartum depression. She later spoke openly about the condition, emphasizing that women experiencing postpartum depression do not necessarily feel rejection toward their children, but can instead experience a complex mix of emotions.

In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere described how she initially struggled to feel an immediate emotional connection with her daughter. She was also battling alcohol addiction, which she said she used to cope with the difficult period. Eventually, she sought treatment and temporarily stepped away from her career.

In 2018, Panettiere Gave Wladimir Klitschko Full Custody

In 2018, Panettiere agreed to give Klitschko full custody of Kaya, who was living with him in Ukraine. She later described the decision as one of the most painful moments of her life.

“I remember every second of that day. No mother could forget a single thing about the day she signed her child away”

Panettiere explained that, given her state of mind at the time, she believed a custody battle could have devastated her emotionally. Although the decision was deeply painful, she felt it was the best choice for her daughter.

Hayden Panettiere Recently Spoke Optimistically About Kaya

In May, Panettiere appeared on Jay Shetty’s podcast and spoke candidly about how difficult the custody decision had been.

“I mean, the idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking. Couldn’t be farther from the truth.” She continued: “That was incredibly hard. The fact that my child wasn't going to be with me all day, every day was ... you can't put words to it.”

Despite the physical distance, Panettiere described her relationship with Kaya as deeply loving and close: “We have a really intense, incredible bond and I'm very grateful for that.”

Kaya lives in Europe, but mother and daughter remained in regular contact through FaceTime and frequent conversations. Panettiere also emphasized that Kaya knew how much both of her parents loved her.

In one of her most recent interviews, Panettiere affectionately referred to her daughter as her “Mini-Me” and expressed how proud she was of the young woman Kaya was becoming. She hoped they would continue to spend more time together and eventually develop an even deeper friendship.