Cindy Crawford opens up about the death of her three-year-old brother
Cindy Crawford opens up about the death of her three-year-old brother
July 92020
Livia Gamble Reporter
Supermodel Cindy Crawford poses with her daughter Kaia Gerber, and son Presley Gerber as they attend ‘The Hospital In The Sky’ Asian premiere. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty
As a mother, American model Cindy Crawford says she can’t imagine how her own mother felt hearing her three-year-old son say he’s going to die.
In an episode of Oprah’s Master Class, Crawford, 49, opened up about the loss of her brother Jeff to cancer when she ten.
"My mother said she found him [Jeff] sitting in his room. He was sitting at his little table, and she said, ‘What are you doing?’ And he said, ‘I’m praying.’ And she said, ‘What are you praying about?’
He said, ‘So that when I die, you’ll be OK,’" says Crawford in the video.
"As a mum I can’t imagine hearing your child say that."
When Crawford was eight, her little brother was diagnosed with Leukemia; he was two.
"I think when my parents first told us that my brother was sick, we didn’t really understand what it meant … They didn’t use the word ‘cancer,’" she said.
Crawford says that Jeff was going to the hospital every day for radiation, but that the prognosis wasn’t good.
"He was in remission at times, it was like that hope that he’s cured, he’s better.
"Then the remission ends and they get sick again and all of a sudden it’s more doctors, more hospitals and you know my mother, more distracted and sad and stressed out."
Crawford says at the time she had no experience of death at ten, but she is sure her brother understood.
"Right before he died he had told all of his doctors, ‘I’m not coming back.’"
It was Christmas and Jeff was due to see his doctors on January 3.
"The day that he was supposed to go back to the hospital, that is when he died," says Crawford.
"There’s some sense of completeness and peace that comes with knowing that he knew that, and he kind of had decided he was done fighting," Crawford says.
Crawford has two children, Kaia Jordan Gerber, 13, and Presley Walker Gerber, 16, with Rande Gerber.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Kaia recently made her modelling debut in Vogue Italia.
(https://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/mag…hion-book)
In response to the spread, Crawford showed her support for her daughter on Instagram, writing: "Guess I better watch my back… Love this shot of @KaiaGerber by #StevenMeisel for @VogueItalia!"