Jean-Christophe Novelli: TV chef’s three-year-old son ‘may never talk’ after overcoming cancer
Written by News on 04/11/2019
TV chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and his partner have told of their heartbreak that their three-year-old son, who was diagnosed with cancer as a newborn, may never be able to talk.
Valentino overcame the disease as a baby after being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that develops from nerve cells left behind from development in the womb, at just six weeks old.
After going into remission, the toddler was diagnosed with autism.
Mum Michelle Kennedy, who has two other sons with Novelli, her partner of 11 years, spoke about his condition with the chef in an interview with Hello! magazine.
“We’re having to accept that he may be non-verbal, which is very sad,” she said.
“He can’t even say ‘Mummy’, which is heartbreaking.”
Kennedy recently missed the wedding of Novelli’s daughter Christina so she could stay at home with Valentino.
The chef’s daughter from his first marriage to wife Tina, married music manager Tara Sirrell on the Greek island of Santorini.
The TV star, who gave her away, said: “It was the perfect wedding. It was so romantic, like watching a movie.
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“It’s beautiful to see two people who are so in love and all the people there were the perfect ingredients of the most amazing recipe.”
He added: “I was so proud because, even though she’s an adult now, my daughter is still my baby.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Jean-Christophe Novelli: TV chef’s three-year-old son ‘may never talk’ after overcoming cancer
