Nick Cannon It is Alyssa Scott honored what would have been their late son Zen’s third birthday with a family celebration.
In a heartfelt post shared your Instagram on Sunday, the 43-year-old father of 12 paid tribute to Zen, who died at five months of age in 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer. In the post’s black-and-white photo, Cannon holds a sleeping Zen smiling at the camera.
“Today is the day we celebrate the life of my little boy Zen Scott Cannon, truly an angel, so every 6/23 is hard,” Cannon wrote in his caption. “But the goal is to always try to turn pain into purpose. I love you Zen. Your light will shine forever my son. 🕊️ #ZensLight.”
In another post, Cannon shared a photo of the family gathered at a memorial for the late baby, apparently organized by the foundation that Cannon and Scott founded in honor of their late son with the goal of helping find a cure for pediatric cancer.
The day after what would have been Zen’s first birthday, the pair took to their Instagram accounts at the time and announced Zen’s Light Foundation, whose mission “is to promote global excellence in hope, grief care and pediatric health care for families and children.” needy.” Cannon and Scott participated in “a beautiful lighting ceremony to honor the life of an angel” to commemorate the occasion.
“Thank you for all the love and support everyone sent our way today. I really appreciate everyone who came out and celebrated our beautiful angel 👼🏽 ZEN SCOTT CANNON 6/23,” Cannon captioned his second post from Sunday.
Scott also shared a glimpse of the family’s tribute to Zen on his birthday with a photo posted to his Instagram Stories. The mother of three included an image of a Zen sign, which read: “Celebrating the light of Zen. June 23, 2024.”
Cannon and Scott welcomed their second child togetherwhom the model gave birth to in December 2022. The pair shared photos and videos of Halo’s first birthday partywhich featured flurries of snow and winter-themed balloons.
In December 2021, Cannon shared on his canceled eponymous daytime talk show that Zen, his seventh child at the time, died of brain cancer and a subsequent tumor.
Cannon darkly explained to his spectators that Zen had died due to hydrocephalus, a condition he described as “a malignant midline brain tumor – brain cancer”. According to Mayo clinichydrocephalus “is the accumulation of fluid in cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. Excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain.”
In April 2023, Cannon opened up about the emotional journey behind the revelation in conversation with hip-hop legend and co-founder of Hip Hop Public Health Doug E. Fresh, board-certified neurologist and co-founder of Hip-Hop Public Health Dr. Olajide Williams, and Dreamville Records GRAMMY-nominated artist Lute for Men’s healthin Hip-Hop Health Event: Mind Over Music. The multi-hyphenate explained that he sought therapy after the loss of his son and continues to attend daily.
“I still haven’t dealt with it as well as I would like. It keeps you up late at night – the guilt. How to deal with the guilt. The experience of losing a child. All those things, that’s a day- today’s battle,” shared Cannon. “But through the processes, by having loved ones, by having a partner who is equally understanding and willing to go on this journey with you.”
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