Internet supports Nick Cannon for heartbreaking decision NOT to give baby son Zen chemotherapy
It's been over ten days since Nick Cannon's 5-month-old son Zen died from a brain tumor. In the video from his daytime show 'What's Poppin', Cannon revealed Zen had suffered from hydrocephalus previously which causes fluid buildup in the brain cavities resulting in an increase in the size of the ventricles. This in turn puts pressure on the brain. Cannon said the tumor developed quickly around Thanksgiving and the infant died on December 5. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Cannon revealed he chose not to cure his son with chemotherapy because he didn't want his toddler to "suffer".
Zen was born to Cannon and 'Wild 'N Out' model Alyssa Scott on June 23, 2021, his fourth child in six months. 'The Masked Singer' host's youngest son arrived weeks after Cannon welcomed twin baby boys Zion and Zillion with a DJ Abby De La Rosa. Zen had undergone surgery to have a shunt installed for the fluid to be drained out. Cannon said life for their baby got tougher after the surgery. In the new interview, Cannon said he didn't want to cure Zen with chemotherapy and his decision stemmed from a personal experience. The host himself has battled lupus in the past and had to undergo painful chemotherapy. "I know that pain. To see that happen to a 2-month-old I didn't want that. I didn't want him to suffer," said Cannon.
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Internet sides with Nick
Delivering the heart-crushing news to his fans for the first time, Cannon said, "Over the weekend I lost my youngest son to a condition called hydrocephalus that was pretty much a malignant, invasive mid-line brain tumor - brain cancer. It's tough." Mariah Carey's ex-husband shared during his cover interview with PEOPLE, "We had a short time with a true angel. My heart is shattered. I wish I could have done more, spent more time with him, taken more pictures. I wish I could have hugged him longer." Cannon shared they celebrated his son's birthday every month after doctors said the child had a few months to a couple of years to live.
"We focused on Disneyland, our favorite place. Every month we would celebrate his birthday, just really seeing it as a victory every time he had a milestone that he was still here with us," he said before explaining his son's struggles with his condition. "You could tell he was struggling. He was gasping for air. We'd wake up, and he wouldn't be breathing for maybe five to 10 seconds at a time, and then he'd let out a huge gasp. You could see it frightened him. It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced," he shared.
The Internet has offered support to Cannon and his decision of not letting his son suffer. "It's a heartbreaking decision to make either way. I hope people keep in mind not to judge. You never what you will do if you're ever in that position," a comment read. "I side with Nick. Torturing a sweet baby by intentionally making him sick and with no guarantees...I couldn't do it either. R.I.P. sweet boy," another user commented. "Sometimes the right thing and the hardest thing to do are the same. Very sorry for your loss," a third wrote. "I lost two brothers to multiple cancers and they each said they weren't afraid of the cancer (returning), they were afraid of the chemo (again). Imagine making that decision for your child. Just a little baby," a fourth commented. "He's not wrong, sometimes chemo can prolong life for a short time but cause more pain, he obviously took advice from the doctors. Cancer doesn't discriminate," read another comment.