That closeness made his sudden death especially difficult to process.
In a 2024 interview with People, she explained that she felt she had lost "half of my soul" and said that, as his older sister, she believed it had been her responsibility to protect him.
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ABC News
That sense of responsibility became one of the most painful parts of her grief.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Jansen's death came unexpectedly.
For those left behind after a sudden death, there is often no gradual emotional preparation. One day, the person is part of your ordinary life. Then suddenly, they are not.
Hayden later described receiving the news as feeling like a punch to the gut.
She recalled her mind going blank.
The shock was followed by the reality that she would have to continue living in a world without her brother.
That realization did not become easier simply because time passed.
