Sara Sidner and Stephanie Elam Pay Tribute to Ananda Lewis with Her Final Words

On June 11, 2025, Ananda Lewis, the former MTV host and renowned TV personality, passed away at the age of 52 after a long battle with stage IV breast cancer. On a CNN segment aired on June 12, her two close friends, reporter Sara Sidner and anchor Stephanie Elam, shared heartfelt memories and read Ananda’s final message to Elam before her passing.

The Challenging Treatment Journey

During a conversation with Sidner and Elam in October 2024, Lewis shared her decision regarding her treatment approach. While Sidner opted for traditional methods involving bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy, Lewis chose to keep her tumor and pursue alternative therapies. “I decided to keep the tumor and try to remove it from my body in a different way,” she explained.

Her Final Message: “We All Go”

Stephanie Elam, a close friend of Lewis from their college days at Howard, shared a part of the final message Lewis sent to her:

“You know how I feel about this: we all go. These bodies are on loan and have to be returned. We come with love, and we choose to leave with love,” she said.

She ended the message with a loving note:

“I love you, my best friend.”

Elam said that Lewis was at peace with her decision and emphasized that she lived with love and acceptance until the very end.

Legacy and Message

Ananda Lewis is remembered not only for her prominent career in television but also for her bravery in sharing her cancer journey. She encouraged women to take control of their health and never skip essential screenings. Elam shared, “I’m so proud of her for being open and courageous in telling her story. If she inspired just one person to get checked, that’s amazing.”

Watch the Tribute

To better understand the deep friendship and genuine emotions Sidner and Elam shared for Lewis, you can watch the tribute video here: