Criss Angel spent the day after Christmas in the hospital to support his five-year-old son, Johnny, as he underwent chemotherapy.
Angel, a famed magician and illusionist, shared photos of himself laying in a hospital bed with the young boy on Instagram.
‘Back today for a long day of chemo…’ Angel wrote, tagging the Cure 4 The Kids Foundation in Nevada.
In a separate post, Angel wrote: ‘Sad! ANGRY! But we WILL get through this.’
Criss Angel (right) shared photos of him lying in bed with his son, Johnny (left), in a hospital bed on Instagram
In 2015, Johnny was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at just 21-months-old before he went into remission the following year.
Unfortunately, Angel shared a heartbreaking statement this December revealing that Johnny’s cancer had returned.
‘We have recently had confirmation that our 5-year-old son Johnny Crisstopher has relapsed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). While we are devastated by this unexpected news, we believe that he will be in remission again soon,’ he told Entertainment Tonight.
‘He is an amazingly strong little boy, and with the support of family, friends, and my loyal fans we look forward to the day he is again in remission.’
Angel has continued to be candid about his son Johnny’s illness and the family’s continual fight.
When Johnny received treatment the first time, Angel said that his son was losing hair and had ‘violent tantrums.’
Angel: ‘Johnny is a happy, fun, loving boy, but the steroid treatments have a profound effect on his mood. That’s hard to see, but that’s not our Johnny. That’s the steroids’
‘Johnny is a happy, fun, loving boy, but the steroid treatments have a profound effect on his mood. That’s hard to see, but that’s not our Johnny. That’s the steroids,’ he told People.
‘My son is supposed to outlive me. I’d rather it be me that was sick. I want Johnny’s future to be long and happy. That kid is just a bundle of love. He’s the truest form of magic,’ Angel continued.
Shaunyl Benson, Johnny’s mother, also posted photos of the boy on Instagram.
‘THIS is childhood cancer. THIS is happening right now…he has battled for 3 years and has another 3 to go. He is only 5 years old. THIS has been his normal since he was 18 months old,’ she wrote.
Benson said that Johnny ‘doesn’t even want to smile because the medications make him sad and angry.
‘Instead of planning our next year at school, we are planning our next hospital stay.’
Shaunyl Benson, Johnny’s mother, also posted photos of the Johnny on Instagram (pictured)
Benson: ‘Instead of planning our next year at school, we are planning our next hospital stay’
Angel announced that he wants to help other families undergoing similar struggles by raising awareness and funds for cancer treatment.
‘This setback only continues my commitment to raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research and treatment,’ he said.
‘We are working on a huge event for next year in support of our foundation, The Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation, and will announce more details about it as things are confirmed,’ he continued.
‘We want to thank you all for the outpouring of love, good thoughts and prayers for our amazing boy.
Johnny (pictured) was first diagnosed with the rare form of leukemia at just 21-months-old
Angel: ‘My son will be 8 years old when he’s done and six years of his life, he has been doing chemo treatments. I am going through this now’
The family, including 10-month-old Xristos Yanni and partner Benson, spent time in southern California to visit amusement parks before Johnny’s chemotherapy.
‘That’s why we’re partly out here in California, because we take Johnny to Disney[land], I’m taking him to Universal [Studios] tomorrow,’ he told TMZ.
He also revealed how his perspective has changed from when he ‘worked with sick children’ and when his own son was diagnosed.
He said: ‘So, I understand, with a son who just had a relapse, what it’s really like, moment by moment, and how difficult it is to look at your child who should be worrying about what toy they’re playing with.
‘Instead, they’re worrying about treatment that’s literally putting poison into their body. My son will be 8 years old when he’s done and six years of his life, he has been doing chemo treatments. I am going through this now.’