Alyssa Scott continues to mourn the loss of her and Nick Cannon’s son Zen as she shares how her life has changed in the year since he was hospitalized for brain surgery.
On Friday, the model took to Instagram and recalled the harrowing events that unfolded on August 12, 2021.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since a quick visit to the doctor turned into a five day hospital stay,” Scott wrote of a picture of her little boy wrapped in a blue blanket.
A year later: Alyssa Scott continues to mourn the loss of her and Nick Cannon’s son Zen as she shares how her life has changed in the year since he was hospitalized for brain surgery
A mother’s fear: Scott chronicled the day she brought her son for a “quick doctor’s visit that turned into a five-day hospital stay” and brain surgery
Scott went on to share how things quickly changed on that horrific day and that an emergency situation soon arose.
“We came at 9 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. Zen had brain surgery at 8 weeks old,” she continued. Zen later died of a brain tumor on December 5 at just five months old.
‘I will never be the same again. My body feels it. I’ve been close to tears for the past few days. Try to keep the urge to move forward. I miss my boy.”
Heartbreaking: Zen was just eight weeks old when he was brought in for a doctor’s visit for a sinus problem; Cannon is pictured with his late son
Birthday tribute: Back in June, Scott paid tribute to her baby boy by sharing a video of Zen on Instagram on his first birthday
Back in June, Scott paid tribute to their baby boy by sharing a video of Zen on Instagram on his first birthday.
‘Happy Heavenly Birthday Zen. The root of all the feelings I have today is insurmountable love. She began in the caption for the clip, which begins with the proud mom cradling her newborn son.
“I’m always trying my best to stay positive, but right now I can’t help but scream, ‘It shouldn’t be like this.’ In my mind I can see him smashing his cake and crawling around tugging at my legs. But the reality is I’ll be the one to blow out my first candle. I will wish he were still here with us. GO CALM UP.’
Cannon republished Scott’s tribute, adding the caption: “The loving, caring, unwavering and powerful amazing mother [Alyssa] said it far better than I ever could.’
Family matters: The birthday tribute to Zen featured a number of shots of the boy, including one showing his older sister showing him some love
Gorgeous: Zen looked like a healthy and happy boy in the Instagram clip
Scenic: Scott cradled her son in her arms as she strolled along the beach in the birthday video
As part of his birthday celebration, Scott and Cannon got together for a lighting ceremony to commemorate their angel and to announce the launch of a charity in his name.
“Zen’s Birth has now turned into ‘Zen’s Light’. We are proud to announce his new foundation that will help so many others around this world,” they captioned a photo taken at the event. “Zen’s Light’s mission is to promote world excellence in hope, bereavement care and pediatric health care for families and children in need.
They ended the post by thanking everyone who attended the opening event, “especially Orange County Children’s Hospital and our other wonderful partners. I can’t wait for next year where our Illumination Gala will continue to grow to help find a cure for childhood cancer, advance research and bring comfort to more families in trying times.”
New Charity: In June, Cannon and Scott met for a lighting ceremony to commemorate their angel and to announce the launch of a charity in his name: “Zen’s Light.”
Cannon revealed that he and Scott thought Zen had a sinus problem, so they took him with them to that doctor’s visit.
It turned out he was suffering from a condition called hydrocephalus, which is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep in the brain, according to the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke.
He was also diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his head, requiring urgent surgery. Zen made it out of the surgery, but his health began to deteriorate around Thanksgiving, and eventually he died on December 5th.
Parents’ worst nightmare: Scott revealed in a previous Instagram post that she and Canon knew “Zen’s time on earth would be limited.”
“Since August we knew that Zen’s time on this earth would be limited. We knew he wouldn’t make it to see 6 months,” Scott previously shared in an Instagram post. “I am eternally grateful that he was in the arms of the people who loved him most.”
Scott also has a four-year-old daughter named Zeela.
In addition to Zen, Cannon is also the proud father of 11-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey, Golden ‘Sagon’ and Powerful Queen with Brittany Bell, and twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir with Abby De La Rosa. He most recently welcomed his eighth child, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi on June 28.
Diagnosis: Zen was found to have been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his head and a condition called hydrocephalus, which is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep in the brain; Zen finally passed away on December 5, 2021