Magician Criss Angel reveals five-year-old son's cancer is back just three months after he went into remission
Just a little over two months after magician and illusionist Criss Angel announced emphatically that his five-year-old son was cancer-free, he revealed that the young boy had relapsed and that they were fighting it once again.
Angel, 51, told TMZ that Johnny Crisstopher would be heading back to the hospital next week to restart treatment for his acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow which is the most common form of childhood cancer. "He’s been in remission, but unfortunately … he had a relapse and he’s going back into the hospital on Monday," the magician somberly admitted.
Johnny was first diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 21-months-old, and following a lengthy and drawn-out battle, his mother Shaunyl Benson, 27, had announced just this past September that he was finally cancer-free.
"Our little Superman had his port taken out today," she wrote in an Instagram post at the time. "After almost 4 years, he’s finally free. The surgery went great and he is recovering well! We are so proud of you Johnny Crisstopher."
But she too confirmed that his cancer had returned in an emotional statement. "Sometimes in life, things get hard. Sometimes things don’t make sense," she shared. "Sometimes things just aren’t fair. No matter what happens or what you believe, God is always there beside you, for strength and guidance. I’ve never doubted that God gives his toughest battles to his bravest soldiers."
"So that brings us to where we are today," she continued. "This week we found out that our Johnny Crisstopher has relapsed. His leukemia has come back. As parents, we are absolutely gutted with the news. Our boy will have to endure more of what’s he’s already been through for the last 3 years @crissangel and no child should EVER have to suffer [sic]."
"Johnny Crisstopher is a kid like no other. The brightest, strongest and most loving beam of light and we are so incredibly proud of him. I know it in my heart that he will beat this again and with all the love and support in the world HE WILL."
Angel had set out to make a documentary on his son's chemo treatments, and to raise $1 million for pediatric cancer research after the first diagnosis, and told TMZ he has similar plans this time around as well. "We’re going to try to raise $5 million in one night at Planet Hollywood," he said. "I’m going to give details about the event that will happen next year, so I’ll definitely get back to you."