Shannen Doherty's Unfulfilled Dream: A Motherhood Longed For
Shannen Doherty, the beloved star of "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed," tragically passed away on July 13, 2023, at the age of 53, after a long battle with breast cancer. Her death left a void in the hearts of her fans and colleagues, but it also brought to light a heartfelt desire she carried throughout her life: to be a mother.
In a January episode of her podcast "Let's Be Clear," Doherty opened up about her yearning for a child, revealing that she and her then-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, had been trying to conceive for years.
"Not only did I want a child for myself, but I wanted it for my husband. I wanted it for our marriage. I wanted him to have that part of himself fulfilled as well," she shared. This desire heavily influenced her treatment decisions, as she navigated the complex landscape of her cancer journey.
The couple, married in 2011, faced the challenges of having a child later in life, turning to IVF. However, menopause and the relentless battle against cancer eventually forced Doherty to abandon the pursuit of motherhood through IVF.
Despite her health struggles, including a mastectomy in 2016, Doherty remained hopeful, achieving remission in 2017. But the cancer returned in 2019, and by 2020, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. The news was devastating, but Doherty continued to fight, facing the spread of cancer to her brain and bones in 2023.
Amidst this arduous journey, Doherty and Iswarienko divorced in early 2023. However, she expressed a newfound openness to love in November 2023, confessing to PEOPLE, "I don't really know what it looks like. I have a best friend, a male best friend who we joke that we're married, and his two kids and I have had massive breakthroughs and we just love each other and hang out, and I kind of view them as my children."
While she acknowledged her openness to the possibility of a new relationship and perhaps even another shot at motherhood, Doherty admitted that it was a complex and evolving desire: "I think I would love nothing more than to be a mom. I always wanted it, and I think if I did it with my best friend or a partner, then I don't know any amount of time... I look at kids who don't have parents at all, and I think if I adopt a child or whatever it is, any amount of time is better than nothing. Maybe. I don't know."
Doherty's final months were filled with a sense of acceptance and the will to live life to the fullest. She spent quality time with close friends like Sarah Michelle Gellar, offering her home and love as a safe haven for Gellar's children during the pandemic. She also found solace in her brother Sean Doherty's seven children, whom she considered her own family.
Despite her difficult circumstances, Doherty's spirit remained strong: "Iâm not done with living. Iâm not done with loving. Iâm not done with creating. Iâm not done with hopefully changing things for the better," she told PEOPLE.
Her words echoed a woman who, despite the heartbreak of an unfulfilled dream, embraced life's complexities with grace and determination. While motherhood was a longing that remained unfulfilled, her impact on the world and the lives she touched will forever stand as a testament to her enduring spirit and unwavering love.
