Happy birthday to sweet Johnny Crisstopher, illusionist Criss Angel’s son who turned 6 this weekend as he continues treatment for cancer.
Read More“We love you more than life itself,” wrote Angel. “You have blessed this earth in a big way.”
Mom Shaunyl Benson marked Johnny Crisstopher’s birthday with a video montage.
Johnny Crisstopher's Cancer Journey
Johnny was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October 2015. At the time, Angel announced on social media that he would be canceling some shows due to a family emergency. Johnny was in treatment for three years and his cancer went into remission, but by December 2019, the cancer had returned.
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.
Childhood Cancer Impacts the Whole Family
As many in the SurvivorNet community may know, childhood cancer affects every member of the family. Jane Wexler, a New York-based photographer whose son, Justice is a cancer survivor, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview that “when we were in the hospital we met a lot of couples, and a lot of people don’t stay together because they can handle this. Fortunately, we [she and her husband] were very strong and we stayed together.”
Jayne Wexler, a New York City-based photographer
They try to appreciate every moment they have together as a family, she said, and they even attended parenting therapy to get through some of the harder times.
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