Eddie Van Halen had battled cancer for many years, but the last few days before his death on Tuesday, October 6, the legendary guitarist's health went into "rapid decline."
The last few days before the legendary guitarist passed, the Van Halen family protectively gathered around him, especially amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to a source close to Van Halen.
The guitarist had been battling cancer for almost two decades but aged 65, Eddie had bravely fought and arduous fight, and his son, Wolfgang, confirmed the news of his passing in a heartbreaking post to social media.
Eddie Van Halen attends the 10th Annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic on May 1, 2017, in Toluca Lake, California. | Source: Getty Images.
A DECLINE THAT ONLY TOOK DAYS
The novel coronavirus pandemic caused Eddie's family to be protective over him and his health, at his age, and given Eddie's ongoing battle against throat cancer, they wanted to keep him safe. However, the days leading up to his death showed a sharp decline in his health, as a source told PEOPLE:
"He had throat cancer for years but it spread — it was in all his organs. The last three days it was a rapid decline."
THE EXTENT OF HIS ILLNESS WAS UNKNOWN
Eddie's first experience with cancer came in 2000 when he received a tongue cancer diagnosis. He went into remission in 2002, but then it returned in the form of throat cancer.
The musician used to fly to Germany for radiation treatments, and since he lived with the disease for so many years, no one was aware of how serious it had become as another source reportedly said:
"He's had it for years but nobody knew it was this serious."
Last year November, Eddie sparked rumors of declining health when he spent time in a hospital to receive treatment for abdominal pain due to intestinal issues. In the end, the symptoms were caused by a bad reaction to cancer drugs.
THOSE HE LOVED WAS WITH HIM
The legendary guitarist passed while at the St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. According to reports, Eddie had his current wife, Janie, his brother Alex, his ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli, and their son Wolfgang with him when he passed.
After hearing the heartbreaking news, Eddie's fellow Van Halen bandmate, David Lee Roth, lamented on the "long great" trip they experienced together during their career.
EDDIE TURNED 65 IN JANUARY
Eddie Van Halen's wife, Janie, made sure to commemorate his 65th birthday, which came around on January 26. Alongside a sweet picture of them, she sent him tribute in celebration.
Dubbed the "Guitar God," Eddie got several cake, heart, and wink emoji attached to the smiling selfie portrait she used to wish her husband a happy birthday at the time.
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