Lucille Ball's only granddaughter dies at 31 after battle with breast cancer
The family of Desiree S. Anzalone, who was the only granddaughter of the famous I Love Lucy actress, have paid tribute to a 'special little girl'
Lucille Ball's only granddaughter Desiree S. Anzalone has died at the age of 31 following a battle with breast cancer.
Desiree had been first diagnosed at the age of 25 and underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment.
She was in remission but in 2018 learned the cancer had progressed to Stage four and spread to her liver, lungs and bones.
Sharing the news of her tragic death, Desiree's mother Julie paid tribute to her 'special little girl' in an emotional statement.
Julia told People magazine : "Watching her slip away was just, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
"No mother should have to watch that," she added.
Julia described Desiree, who passed away on September 27, as 'so special.'
"All our children are special, but this little girl was something else.
"We were [best friends]. We are still," said the bereft mum, who called her child her 'mini me.'
"She was so beautiful, just so so beautiful inside and out," said Julia. "She really, really reminded me a lot of my grandmother, more so than I."
Desiree was named after her grandfather Desi Arnaz Sr, who was Lucille's co-star on I Love Lucy and real life husband.
Lucille and Desi named their son Desi Arnaz Jr and the name was passed down to his daughter Julie's child Desiree.
Speaking in 2019, Desiree said she felt her actress grandmother would have been proud of her.
She said she believed that 'Lucy and I share the same gumption in regards to my fight with stage 4 breast cancer.'
Sadly, due to coronavirus social-distancing restrictions, Desiree's mum Julie wasn't able to see her poorly daughter as much as she'd like to in her final months this year.
"The COVID-19 kept us apart," explained Julie. "I wasn't able to see her as much as I usually do because she was compromised and I didn't want her getting sick in any kind of way.
"So I wasn't able to spend as much time with her as I normally do because of the COVID since March.
"I mean, I saw her, but not as much; we'd hang out every day practically she was here. Plus, she lived with me for a while."
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