Jean-Christophe Novelli has not told his parents that his baby son has cancer.
Jean-Christophe Novelli
The 55-year-old celebrity chef and his partner Michelle Kennedy, 40, were devastated when Valentino Louis, who was born in September, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer which mostly affects babies and young children but he can't bring himself to tell his elderly parents Jean, 77, and Monique, 84.
He said: "I can't - it would kill them. They have photos of Valentino all over the house but they have not yet met him. Thankfully, they don't use the internet."
And the devastated chef wishes he could trade places with his cancer stricken baby.
He told the Sunday Mirror: "We found a lump in Valentino's neck and we both went to pieces.
"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."
Jean-Christophe - who announced Valentino's cancer the same day that Michael Buble revealed his three-year-old son Noah has cancer - added: "Valentino is so tiny. You feel utterly helpless. My heart goes out to the Bublés and any other family facing cancer."
However, Michelle insisted they are staying positive.
She said: "I used to be scared of my children being snatched. It never occurred to me that they could get cancer.
"I haven't asked what Valentino's chances of survival are... I don't want to consider that there is even a small chance he'll die.
"These last few weeks have changed us. Being on a children's cancer ward has made me realise we're actually lucky because we have some hope. Others aren't so fortunate. We count our blessings every day."
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