Teddi Mellencamp, best known for her role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, recently opened up about the emotional and delicate process of telling her children about her stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Teddi Mellencamp, who was diagnosed with multiple brain tumors after her previous skin cancer diagnosis in 2022, made it a priority to be transparent with her kids despite the overwhelming news.
Her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, shared how they approached the difficult conversation. “I was upfront with them with what was going on,” Arroyave, 47, said when discussing how they explained the news to their three children: Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5. The tumors had been discovered on the Real Housewives alum’s brain, and the couple wanted to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.
When asked how the kids took the news during an episode of The Eds podcast, Arroyave admitted that their reactions were understandably filled with concern. “They were obviously scared,” he shared. “They were concerned.” He further emphasized that he made a conscious effort to not sugarcoat the situation. “I tried my best to not sugarcoat it too much and called it the way it was,” he said. “I was like, ‘There’s some tumors that your mom has in her brain.’”
While the situation sounded dire, Arroyave reassured the children, offering a hopeful perspective. “I said, ‘It sounds worse than what it is, but this is what I think is, this is what we think is going to happen. This is sort of how we’re going to deal with it, and this is why I’m confident that she’s going to make it through.’”
Both Mellencamp and Arroyave felt it was essential to approach their kids directly, rather than have them learn about the diagnosis from someone else or online. “We decided to be direct,” Arroyave explained. “We didn’t want them to find out through another avenue.”
Teddi Mellencamp, who shares differing personalities with her children, also tailored her approach based on each child’s unique traits. “Slate wants to know every chrome of every detail,” she revealed. “She’s like my identical human. We look the same, we talk the same, we have all the same issues. So she wants every detail.”
In contrast, Cruz, her “worrywart,” had concerns of his own. “He was concerned about the condition being contagious,” Mellencamp said. “He’s worried about the ‘what ifs.’”
Her youngest, Dove, is still too young to grasp the full weight of the situation. “She’s unable to absorb the full impact, given her age,” Mellencamp shared.
The couple also takes special care with Arroyave’s daughter Isabella, whom Mellencamp describes as “super strong.” “We’re trying to focus on her sports and school and not overly focus on me,” she said, underscoring her desire to maintain some normalcy for their family.
Mellencamp’s journey with cancer has been ongoing. After being diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022, her health took another alarming turn in February when doctors discovered the tumors on her brain, which had been growing for at least six months. “These are all a direct result of my melanoma,” Mellencamp explained in a March Instagram post.
The timing of the diagnosis came amid personal changes. Mellencamp and Arroyave, who married in 2011, separated in October 2024 under difficult circumstances. Despite the challenges, the two continue to navigate the situation as co-parents, offering as much stability as possible for their children.
On February 12, Mellencamp underwent surgery to remove the growths, but in March, doctors found even more tumors. Through it all, she remains hopeful and determined, sharing her experience to help others who may be going through similar struggles.
In the face of uncertainty, Mellencamp and Arroyave’s approach to their children’s well-being has been clear: honesty, transparency, and an unwavering belief that she will get through this.
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