California lifestyle influencer Jennifer Burnham has revealed that her four-year-old son Baxter died after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.
Baxter died on October 5, days after Ms Burnham announced his death and described him as an “angelic” child. She and her husband, Bryce, also have a one-year-old son, Barron.
In a social media statement, Ms Burnham said the family had been overwhelmed by messages of support and prayers, explaining that she had initially been unable to discuss what had happened.
She said Baxter was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma in April after his left eye began crossing uncontrollably. He had first been diagnosed with strabismus, but an MRI revealed the tumour.
“(It) is essentially the worst type of brain tumour that you can have, unfortunately, because it’s in the brainstem, and that’s inoperable, meaning it’s incurable,” Ms Burnham said.
She explained that the brainstem controls neurological functions and therefore could not be operated on. Baxter underwent surgery to remove part of the tumour and also received proton radiation.
Ms Burnham said she and her husband pursued “anything and everything” that might help their son, including travelling to Europe for treatment, as well as trying red light therapy and hyperbaric oxygen baths.
“We talked to every doctor in the country,” she said, adding that it had been devastating to watch their child suffer while feeling “literally helpless”.
“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, and we’ve been living in this nightmare for six months,” she said.
Despite his illness, Ms Burnham said Baxter had remained cheerful and had fought until his final day.
“He was so strong and such a fighter, and literally fought until the very last day,” she said. “He had a smile on his face and just was the happiest guy.”
Ms Burnham said she wanted to share the family’s experience to help others facing a similar diagnosis, offering information about the treatments they had tried and contacts they had made.
“No person should go through this alone,” she said.
She also said she took comfort from believing Baxter was no longer in pain, adding: “No child should be suffering like that.”
