Published Mar 3, 2020

Illusionist Criss Angel Takes His 6-Year-Old Son to His First Concert — KISS — as His Childhood Leukemia Battle Continues

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A little KISS can brighten up anyone’s mood.

Illusionist Criss Angel has been candid with his fans about the struggles his family is facing, as his 6-year-old son, Johnny Crisstopher, battles cancer. But the family put those struggles aside this week as Angel, wife Shaunyl Benson and little Johnny headed out on a family road trip to attend a KISS concert — Johnny’s first concert ever.

Angel has said in the past that as his son faces cancer treatments again, he and his wife are trying to ensure that they distract Johnny as much as possible with his favorite things — and apparently, the 6-year-old cancer survivor quite the little KISS fan.

Angel posted a video to Instagram of Johnny after the family apparently got a backstage tour from KISS’ own Paul Stanley. In the video, Johnny tells the camera that he just spent some time with Stanley and got to see his costume.

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A post shared by Criss Angel (@crissangel) on Mar 2, 2020 at 6:39pm PST

“You tried ’em on,” Angel says to his son in the video. “You tried on his boots. You tried on his jacket. You saw the makeup. You saw what no one sees, huh?”

To which Johnny enthusiastically says, “Yea!,” before showing off his massive KISS balloon.

A few weeks before the show, Stanley apparently sent little Johnny quite the KISS care package. Angel posted another video at the end of January, where he and Johnny show off some KISS action figures, a bunch of T-shirts and other merch items like KISS lunch boxes, and thank Stanley for the amazing gifts.

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We want to thank you so very much @paulstanleylive of @kissonline for the huge package of amazing #Kiss merch and your latest awesome @puma collection. We are very grateful for you my friend. ????
A post shared by Criss Angel (@crissangel) on Jan 27, 2020 at 11:43am PST

Johnny Crisstopher’s Cancer Journey

Johnny was first diagnosed with acute acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October 2015. He experienced a cancer recurrence in late 2019. With the help of his family, though, Johnny seems to be keeping his spirits high as he undergoes cancer treatment again.

After his initial diagnosis in 2015, Johnny was in treatment for three years before his cancer went into remission. When the cancer returned, Angel told TMZ in December 2019 that his son would again have to undergo chemotherapy treatments.

Throughout the journey, Angel has posted some painful and candid updates that really showcase the realities of childhood cancer. He’s posted both heartwarming snaps of the family in Johnny’s hospital room together as he undergoes treatments, and heartbreaking updates — like a video that shows little Johnny making the decision to shave his head, since he would likely lose his locks due to heavy treatments anyway.

What Is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?

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.

Johnny Crisstopher was diagnosed before his second birthday.