Happy Birthday to a Hero
- Singer Michael Bublé posted a sweet update to celebrate his son Noah’s birthday, just four years after he battled liver cancer.
- Noah was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was just three years old in 2016.
- Liver cancer in children is extremely rare. According to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the most common type of pediatric liver cancer is called Hepatoblastoma. In 1,000,000 children, only 2 or 3 will be diagnosed with the disease.
After Noah was diagnosed in 2016, Bublé canceled concerts to be there for his son during the cancer battle. Now in remission, the singer marveled at how brave, kind and good-hearted Noah is growing up to be.
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“I've never known anyone as kind or as good-hearted,” Bublé went on. “And I'll never truly be able to express how proud I am, or how deep and profound Mommy's and my love is for you. You've blessed our lives in every way. We hope God blesses you on your special day. Happy Birthday, Noah B.”
The singer and his wife, actress Luisana Lopilato, were open about the struggles the family went through as little Noah went through treatment. The couple also has two younger children — Elias, 5, and Vida, 3.
Noah was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was just three years old in 2016. Bublé told the Evening Standard in 2018 that he learned that his son was sick just moments before performing at The One Show on BBC One in London.
“Three minutes before I came on, my wife texted and told me something was wrong,” he explained. “I just died.”
Liver cancer in children is extremely rare. According to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the most common type of pediatric liver cancer is called Hepatoblastoma. In 1,000,000 children, only 2 or 3 will be diagnosed with the disease.
For treatment, Noah had surgery to remove a tumor as well as chemotherapy. Bublé told the Evening Standard that the most important part of the treatment was to remove the tumor with clear margins, meaning no cancer cells remaining on the edges of the tumor site.
‘The Worst Possible Thing You Can Go Through as a Parent’
Noah has been cancer-free since 2017. In a 2018 interview with TODAY Australia, Bublé shared a sentiment that is common among parents whose children battle cancer — wishing you could take the pain away from them.
"I much rather would have it have been me," he said. "What we went through was the worst possible thing you can hear as a parent. There were a million times when my wife and I were just struggling to survive struggle to breathe.”
The singer said that the prayers and positivity his fans sent him helped the family on their toughest days.
"We felt the love of those people. We knew they were praying for us. We knew there was goodness out there. It gave us faith in humanity," he said. "It was just massive."
Jayne Wexler explains how her young son’s cancer diagnosis affected the family.
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