Entertainment
Nick Cannon heaps praise on ‘superhero’ Alyssa Scott after death of son Zen at five months
Nick Cannon has opened up about his son Zen’s death, heaping praise on ‘superhero’ Alyssa Scott.
The TV host broke down in tears as he announced the death of his seventh child on Tuesday, after he suffered from a rare brain tumor.
Discussing their heartbreak, he thanked his partner for ‘being that strength and that rock’ when their five-month-old son was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus recently.
‘She’s making it, you know, five minutes at a time,’ he said on today’s instalment of the Nick Cannon Show.
‘Love to Alyssa, love to her extended family, love to each and every mother that has ever had to lose a child, or had to deal with a child with special needs. I watched her growth.
‘Mothers are superheroes at every aspect, and I want to just take this time out to say she is doing well, but continue to pray for her, continue to pray for our entire family. And we’re going to get through it.’
Nick Cannon opened up about his heartbreak over son Zen’s death (Picture: YouTube)
Nick heaped praise on Alyssa Scott for being so strong (Picture: YouTube)
Nick began the instalment by thanking the audience for their applause, explaining he truly ‘needed’ it.
‘People keep asking me how I’m doing I say, “I’m vertical, I’m standing” and you know that’s a good start,’ he told viewers. ‘Yesterday, it was a little easier than today, because yesterday I was so laser-focused and even numb… I knew I just had to get it done.
‘Today, I’m a little torn, I’m a little confused. Because it’s a hurting thing. I’m grieving, I feel guilty for so many levels. I never wanted to exploit this, I kept it private for so long since I found out about Zen’s diagnosis, in respect to his mother Alyssa and everyone in our family.
‘Yesterday, the onslaught of love and care, it is brand new to me. So I’m dealing with it. So, thank you. Thank you. That’s all I can say. We’re going to get through it.
‘I’m not used to all of this hugging and “You okay?” I’m fine, but of course everyone knows that I’m not fine, but you guys are making me feel better.’
Nick welcomed baby Zen in June with Alyssa, with the pair sharing a glimpse at the little one on social media.
He was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus months before his death, with his conditioning worsening over Thanksgiving.
What is Hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is a build up of fluid in the brain, which can put pressure on the brain and damage it.
Symptoms include headaches, nausea, difficulty walking and blurred vision.
There are three main types of hydrocephalus:
Congenital – which is present at birth, acquired – which develops after birth, and normal pressure – which usually develops in older people.
The condition can usually be treated using a shunt (a thin tube) that drains away the excess fluid.
If left untreated, Hydrocephalus can be fatal.
The condition is a build up of fluid in the brain, which can put pressure on the brain and damage it.
Symptoms include headaches, nausea and blurred vision. If untreated, it can be fatal.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor choked up as he discussed his tragic loss on Tuesday, revealing the moment that doctors told the family their son had fluid building up inside his head, and had discovered a malignant tumor.
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‘The tumor began to grow a lot faster, and we knew that time was…’ he said before taking a moment to gather himself.
Detailing their last days together, Nick shared that he made sure the family had ‘the most quality time’, before he held his son for the last time over the weekend.
Describing the episode as a ‘celebration of life’ for Zen, he added: ‘You can’t heal until you feel’.
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