Page "Sailor Venus" Paragraph 16

Near the end of the series, it is revealed that there is a surgery which might either correct Minako's condition or kill her early.

She refuses to undergo the procedure, preferring to last as long as she can without it, but the other girls convince her to take any chance at life she can get.

She is shown leaving for the hospital, and later that day, Artemis arrives at Rei's temple to tell the girls that Minako has died.

She did, however, leave each of them a note giving her goodbyes.

Rei uses Minako's weapon, Venus Dagger, in conjunction with her own Mars Dagger in the final battle.

Though Minako dies before the final battle, Usagi's use of the Silver Crystal in the finale gives her a second chance at life.

This allows her to take part in the battle in the direct-to-DVD special, in which she uses her own weapon as well as Rei's ( who is in the hospital ) in combat.