90 Day Fiance alum Deavan Clegg has announced that her three-year-old son Taeyang is battling leukemia.
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Deavan, who starred on the first two seasons of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way with her ex-husband Jihoon Lee from 2019 to 2020, took to Instagram on Monday to disclose that her beloved son, whom she welcomed with Jihoon, was recently diagnosed with cancer.
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"I have vowed to always be 100% transparent with you guys and I am choosing to share the most vulnerable and saddest point of my life right now in hopes it can help give anyone else dealing with a similar situation some strength," Deavan, 25, began.
Alongside photos of Taeyang eating and sleeping in a hospital bed, Deavan wrote, "I'm overcome with so much emotion and devastation to announce that my beloved son Taeyang who just celebrated his third birthday last month was just diagnosed with childhood cancer, b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia just a few days ago."
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Deavan revealed he had "already undergone multiple procedures and started chemotherapy treatment" just two days prior.
"This is every parents absolute worst nightmare and I'm trying hard to stay strong for Taeyang, [my daughter Drascilla] and my baby in my tummy," noted Deavan, who is currently pregnant with her boyfriend Christopher "Topher" Park's baby, who is due in Fall 2022.
Deavan welcomed Drascilla, 6, from a relationship she had with a man prior to meeting Jihoon.
Deavan filed for divorce from Jihoon in September 2020 and their divorce was just finalized recently. She has been dating Topher for nearly two years and are expecting a child together after suffering through a miscarriage in April 2021.
"Taeyang will need around the clock hospital care and this will be a long two-year process that has a high success rate of full recovery in five years," Deavan continued in her Instagram post.
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"I'm still processing all of this and asking for prayers, please. If anyone would like to donate to assist with his medical care, I would be forever grateful as this nightmare has been completely unexpected."
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Deavan provided the link to a GoFundMe account in her Instagram bio, which has since accumulated over $15,200 in donations of its total $50,000 goal.
"I will also create some kind of support fundraiser T-shirt this week too just still trying to wrap my head around all of this. Also if anyone knows of any childhood cancer support groups and resources please tag them below," Deavan wrote.
"I'm so beside myself right now and my heart is broken. Thank you friends and supporters for your prayers, healing vibes and strength. #leukemia #childhoodcancer #prayersfortaeyang #westandwithtaeyang #teamtaeyang."
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On Wednesday, Deavan posted a video montage of sweet moments she's had with Taeyang, thanking everyone for their support thus far. In the first 12 hours the GoFundMe went live, over $10,000 was raised for Deavan's family.
"This week has flip our lives upside down," Deavan shared on the eighth day of Taeyang's hospitalization and the fourth day of the little boy's chemotherapy treatment.
"Childhood cancer is one of the worst things to happen to anyone or any family. We will keep everyone updated on Taeyangs Journey to recovery. We are creating shirts today for our little man."
Deavan also clarified how all of the GoFundMe donations will go towards Taeyang's medical bills and care.
Deavan proceeded to share a third Instagram post of a video of Taeyang being a trooper in the hospital.
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"It's a difficult time... but Taeyang is still smiling and everyone has been absolutely amazing. Our hospital room is full of toys and we've been making slime every day," Deavan said.
"I'm so thankful to see all these little warriors still smiling and having fun. The other day in our hall a little boy was zooming through the hallway on his little bike all smiles and laughing. It really changed my perspective and instead of tears we will be smiling and dancing. Taeyang you got this!"
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Deavan said in addition to the GoFundMe account, fans can show their support through "encouraging words" and continuing to follow Taeyang on his journey to recovery.
Deavan has also been updating her followers on Instagram Stories.
"High hopes we can go home soon," Deavan wrote Wednesday. "And come back twice a week for treatment, fingers crossed... Seeing great improvement in his appetite."
Deavan added, "During this difficult time, Drascilla graduated Kindergarten. We are so proud of her. She's been the best big sister during all of this. She's really amazing and I am so, so, so happy to have such a beautiful, wonderful, strong girl in my life."
Despite her refusal to ever appear on a 90 Day Fiance spinoff again, Deavan made a point to thank 90 Day Fiance cast members and alums for sharing her posts and donating in light of her son's health crisis.
"It truly means the world to us. And the support of everyone has been so overwhelming. I've been in tears all morning. Thank you, thank you, thank you," Deavan gushed on Instagram Stories.
"You guys give us so much hope. We know when Taeyang is older, he will know so many people cheered him on."
According to the GoFundMe page created by Deavan's mother, Taeyang had taken countless trips to the emergency room before a specialist diagnosed him with cancer.
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Deavan's representative Lindsay Feldman told Us Weekly that Jihoon "has not had any contact with [Deavan]'s son since late 2020" and has been "unsuccessful" at contacting him about their son's diagnosis.
"He has her and her family's numbers, emails and social media blocked," the representative claimed, adding how Deavan has "even tried to reach out to Jihoon's father but was unsuccessful."
Deavan previously claimed Jihoon was "abusive" during their relationship and that he had done "disgusting" and "vile" things.
Deavan even alleged Jihoon had abused Drascilla, which Jihoon firmly denied.
In a Q&A session on Instagram late last month, Deavan insisted Jihoon's alleged lack of responsiveness and care for Taeyang is why a judge awarded her full custody of Taeyang during the divorce proceedings.
Deavan revealed in August 2020 she had moved back to the United States after trying to move to South Korea for the second time, and Jihoon then confirmed their split on social media shortly afterwards.
But Deavan revealed in her Q&A that she and Jihoon actually ended their relationship in November 2019, shortly after she had announced having a miscarriage with their second child on social media, but they chose to continue filming 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way for the money.
Deavan suggested in her Q&A that she's thinking about having Topher adopt both Taeyang and Drascilla.
"He would very much love that... Blood doesn't make a father a father," Deavan shared on Instagram Stories.
She elaborated, "Topher has been in Taeyang's life for two years. Taeyang calls Topher dad and cries for him more than me. I think Taeyang only knows him. Unfortunately, that is what my ex decided. He had his rights and didn't take them."
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