Jean-Christophe Novelli reveals devastation over 10-week-old son’s cancer diagnosis
The celebrity chef has said he feels 'utterly helpless'
CHEF Jean-Christophe Novelli has said he wishes he could trade places with his ten-week-old cancer-stricken son.
The 55-year-old and fiancée Michelle Kennedy, 40 , - who revealed that their son was battling from cancer two weeks ago on the same day as Michael Buble announced his son’s battle – have opened up about devastating diagnosis in a heart-breaking interview.
He told the : “There have been nights when I have sat alone, crying, asking God why this has happened to my little boy and not to me. I wish I could change places with him.
“Valentino is so tiny. You feel utterly helpless. My heart goes out to the Bublés and any other family facing cancer.”
The couple found a lump on Valentino’s neck on October 23 and within just a few days it had doubled in size.
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An MRI scan soon revealed the lump was cancerous and the child was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma cancer – a very rare cancer of nervous system.
Valentino went into surgery immediately but the couple were left devastated when they were told by surgeons that they would be unable to remove the tumour completely because it was so close to Valentino’s windpipe and vital nerves.
Last week they received a glimmer of hope from the doctors at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge who have said they believe they can treat him successfully with chemotherapy.
Valentino – whose cancer has thankfully not spread - will return for four rounds of chemotherapy.
Michelle, who admits she has not asked what his chances of survival are, revealed what has been helping her during such a difficult time.
She told the paper: “What’s keeping me going is the thought of Valentino walking me down the aisle at our wedding, as a little page boy.
“That’s a nice thought to keep in my head on the darker days.”
Jean-Christophe and his Michelle welcomed Valentino Louis in September, and posed together for a photoshoot at the time.
He told Hello at the time: “I have always wanted three sons and this is the perfect hat-trick. All the ingredients are here for a lovely recipe. It’s wonderful to have children.
“I will be at the traditional retirement age when Valentino is at secondary school but age is not important – I still feel young and I expect I will be running for my bus pass!”
The couple already have sons Jean, seven, and Jacques, three, and Jean-Christophe’s daughter Christina, 30, from a previous marriage.
Neuroblastoma is a cancer in the nervous system and other tissues, with fewer than 100 children in the UK diagnosed each year with the disease. However, of those, most of them are under five.
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