Hayden Panettiere's emotional final comments about her daughter weeks before her death

She suffered undiagnosed post-partum depression after Kaya’s traumatic birth and went to rehab when the tot was four months old, eventually giving full custody of her to Klitschko.

Just weeks before her death, Panettiere spoke with Momé magazine for a cover story published July 21 titled “Hayden Panettiere Never Stopped Choosing Her Daughter”.

Panettiere recalled the horror of losing a significant amount of blood after Kaya’s birth, requiring seven transfusions and three hours of surgery.

She said she felt “empty” after the birth, despite desperately wanting to feel the “love” every mother talks about having for their child.

Hayden Panettiere with her daughter Kaya

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The child star turned to alcohol to help contain her emotions and later went to rehab.

Panettiere and Klitschko broke up due to her struggles with her mental health and the long-distance nature of their relationship, with her in LA and him in Ukraine. He sued her for full custody of Kaya when she was three.

Discussing handing over full custody, she said: "It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make.

"I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mom she needed me to be."

The actor added that they were “so connected” now and talk regularly.

"I love my daughter, and I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her.”

She also remarked on their uncanny likeness, joking: "She's like a mini-me."

Panettiere shared her hopes that Kaya can "one day understand my story, and why I wasn't able to be with her all the time”.

Her boxer ex Wladimir Klitschko got full custody of Kaya

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The star previously said she was “heartbroken” about giving full custody of her Kaya to Klitschko and admitted it wasn’t “fully” her decision.

She had thought Kaya was only visiting Ukraine while she was treated for her addiction to alcohol and pills, when it became apparent that she would be staying there with Klitschko.

“I was gonna go work on myself and I was gonna get better, and when I got better that things could change and she could come to me and I could have my time with her, “she told Red Table Talk.

“But that didn’t happen. I thought she was going over to visit him like she always did.

“[Kaya] would go back and forth from me in Nashville and Ukraine, and then once she was over there, it was immediately ‘I want full custody of her,’ which was a shock to me.’”

She eventually signed the papers granting him full custody, stating it was “the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever, ever had to do in my life”.

Panettiere died in South Carolina on Sunday, according to The New York Times. The circumstances surrounding her death are currently unknown.

She flew out of Los Angeles to the south the day before her death with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, TMZ reported. Hickerson’s family is aware, according to the outlet.

“Police responded to an incident involving Hayden today and there is currently an open investigation,” South Carolina police said.

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]