Magician and illusionist Criss Angel’s young son, Johnny Crisstopher, was first diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia before his second birthday. Now, Angel told TMZ, after being in remission for a short time, Johnny’s cancer has returned, and he’ll begin more treatment next week.
In the short interview with TMZ at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, Criss said he’s focused on keeping his now 5-year-old son’s spirits up.
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Johnny Crisstoper’s Cancer Journey
Johnny was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October 2015, according to E! News. Angel announced on social media at the time that he would be canceling some shows due to a family emergency. Johnny was in treatment for some time; Angel only announced that his son was in remission earlier this year.
While childhood leukemia is rare, leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children and teens. About three out of four leukemias diagnosed in children are ALL, according to the American Cancer Society. Leukemias start in the bone marrow, where cancerous cells build up and crowd out normal cells. These cells then spill into the bloodstream. Pediatric ALL is most commonly diagnosed in children between the ages of 2 and 5.
Throughout his son’s treatment, Angel set a goal of raising $1 million for pediatric cancer research and treatment, and launched the Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation.
A charity event the magician held in September 2016 boasted a star-studded lineup and achieved Angel’s fundraising goal of $1 million.
Related: Playing the Role of Cancer Caregiver and Mom
SurvivorNet has spoken with other parents whose children have cancer. Jane Wexler, for instance, whose son Justice is a survivor of ALL, previously told us that “being a caregiver is a huge job. … It’s really hard to see your child going through this. … If it could be me, I’d take it in a second.”
And she noted how much advocating and other work is needed. “There are a lot of components to dealing with cancer, so you don’t have that much time for yourself,” she said. “I try to stay strong but sometimes you just need to cry.”
She also stressed the importance of just hanging out with her son and enjoying the time spent together. “I realize,” she said, “that it’s very precious.”
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