Hayden Panettiere had been making plans for a special birthday week with her daughter, Kaya, before her sudden death at age 36.

The Nashville and Heroes actress was preparing to turn 37 on Aug. 21 and had reportedly planned to travel to Germany to spend the week with her 11-year-old daughter.

“She was so excited to see her,” a source close to Panettiere told , adding that the actress had been telling people how much she was looking forward to spending time with Kaya.

The planned trip was something Panettiere had been talking about for months. Her longtime hairstylist and close friend Erick Orellana previously told that the actress had been excited about taking a vacation and seeing her daughter.

“She was talking about how she wanted to take a vacation, and that she wanted to go and see her daughter,” Orellana said. “Her daughter was always her absolute priority. She loved her so much.”

Kaya was at the center of Panettiere’s life

Orellana, who worked with Panettiere for three years, said the actress frequently showed him pictures of Kaya and shared stories about her.

“She lit up when she spoke about her,” he recalled. “Everything she did revolved around her.”

Panettiere shared Kaya with her former fiancé, professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Their daughter has lived with Klitschko in Ukraine since 2018, after Panettiere transferred custody during a difficult period in her life involving postpartum depression and addiction.

Despite no longer having custody, Panettiere remained deeply connected to her daughter. She and Klitschko maintained an amicable relationship, and the actress had recently spoken warmly about the strong bond she shared with Kaya.

Panettiere had also been open about how painful it was to make the decision regarding custody, while emphasizing her love for her daughter.

Her birthday plans were never fulfilled

Panettiere died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, just days before the birthday she had expected to celebrate with Kaya.

Police and emergency personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman shortly before 2 p.m. Medical workers attempted to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was 36.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing. Officials have not found evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and an official cause of death has not yet been announced.

A preliminary autopsy reportedly found no signs of trauma.

Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement and remembered his daughter as someone who brought enormous joy to her family, fans and everyone who knew her.

“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her,” he said.

The actress is survived by Kaya and her parents.

Her upcoming birthday, which was supposed to be a chance to reunite with the daughter she loved deeply, will now be remembered by her family as another painful reminder of the future they had hoped to share with her.