“After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away,” O’Neal said in a statement to Usmagazine.com. “Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.”

A forlorn O’Neal, wearing a Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelet, was spotted leaving the hospital Thursday, telling photographers, “She’s gone.”