Published Jan 8, 2021

Kim Kardashian’s Childhood Nanny Says Robert Kardashian, Who Passed from Esophageal Cancer, Would Approve of Kim’s Divorcing Kanye West

Pam Behan, 52, the childhood nanny to Kim Kardashian and her siblings, said in a recent interview that Kim's late father, Robert, would approve of her divorcing Kanye West; the two married in 2014 and have four children together.

Anne McCarthy

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Kim's Dad Meant the World to Her

Kim Kardashian’s childhood nanny says that Kim’s father, Robert, would have approved of her divorcing Kanye West, 43, had he still been alive today.
Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003 from esophageal cancer, a disease that sometimes doesn’t present until the cancer has advanced and spread.
Coping with the loss of a parent can be helped with tools like therapy and support groups.

Kim Kardashian, 40, is allegedly in the midst of what will inevitably become a very public divorce from her husband, Kanye West, 43; Kim’s childhood nanny is speaking out about how her late father would react to the news.

“I know that he would not want her to be unhappy and he would want the best for her happiness and wellbeing, for Kim and her kids.”

Kim was very close with her dad, Robert, who died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at 59, and the former family’s nanny says she believes Robert would approve of the split. Kim and Kanye have four children together, and have been married since May 2014.

Related: Reality Star Kim Kardashian, 40, Brought to Tears After "Reuniting" With Dad Who Passed Away 17 Years Ago from Cancer: 'I'm Always With You'

In an interview with The Daily Mail, Kim’s childhood nanny, Pam Behan, 52, who cared for the Kardashian children for eight years in the 1990s, said that Kim will undoubtedly be supported by her family during this tumultuous time. She also said that Kim’s dad would support her, too. “I had a pretty good relationship with Kim’s dad, Robert Kardashian, we were friends,” said Behan. “I know that he would not want her to be unhappy and he would want the best for her happiness and wellbeing, for Kim and her kids.”

Robert Kardashian’s Cancer Battle

Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003, a mere two months after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Oftentimes, the symptoms of esophageal cancer don’t present until the cancer is advanced and has spread. This limits treatment options for those like Kardashian, who get a diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with esophageal cancer is just under 20%. Treatment for this disease includes surgery and chemotherapy. Esophageal cancer has a high rate of recurrence, and treatment developments have been limited over the years.

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Coping with Loss of a Loved One to Cancer

Losing a parent or loved one to cancer is gut-wrenching, and leads to a great deal of grief, and the complex emotions that accompany the grieving state.

Following a cancer loss, it’s important to arm yourself with the needed support and tools to help make a difficult process a bit easier. Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mom to breast cancer, and she credits therapy with helping her through that difficult period. In a previous interview, Legaspi said, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on.”

She credits therapy with helping her keep things in perspective. ” Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings,” said Legaspi. “The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK.”

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