Teddi Mellencamp has undertaken the heartbreaking task of writing her will to ensure that her family is ‘taken care of’ after confirming her cancer has now progressed to stage four, an insider has revealed.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, who previously said she felt she was on her ‘deathbed’, has already undergone more than 20 surgeries during her two-and-a-half year fight against the cruel disease.
She was initially diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, but the cancer has now spread, with the actress recently undergoing surgery to remove four tumors from her brain.
On Wednesday, Teddi revealed to USWeekly that the melanoma has now metastasized to her lungs and brain, forcing her to face the reality that her daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, five, and son Cruz, 10, may soon have to face life without her.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, a source close to Teddi confirmed she has drafted a will as she faces the ‘very real possibility’ she may not be granted a ‘miracle.’
‘Teddi does now have a will. Everything she has will obviously go to her family and towards the care of her children,’ the insider revealed. ‘She is aware that there is a very real possibility that she will not make it through this.’
Teddi Mellencamp is has taking all the necessary steps to ensure that her family is ‘taken care of’ after confirming she now has stage four cancer
Teddi has paused her divorce after she announced her split from her husband of 13 years, Edwin Arroyave, in November; they share daughters Slate, 12, Dove, five, and son Cruz, 10
The source noted that the star, whose father is rocker John Mellencamp, is staying positive but wants to be ‘realistic’ about her health.
‘She is trying to be strong while at the same time being realistic about her situation,’ they continued. ‘This is not easy at all. Miracles happen and everyone is hoping for one.’
The insider added that her divorce from Edwin Arroyave ‘is currently off the table.’
‘If things take a turn for the worse, she wants her family to be prepared and taken care of,’ they said.
Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of cancer and indicates that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
Speaking about the devastating diagnosis to UsWeekly, she said: ‘I had six brain tumors and two lung tumors; they all came from melanoma that metastasized into these tumors inside of my body.’
Her treatment plan has now changed, and she will ‘find out for sure exactly where we stand on June 1.’
‘If you need to do another round, if there’s any other surgery, if it’s the end,’ she said. ‘It’s a hard pill to swallow.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, has already undergone more than 20 surgeries during her cancer battle. Seen here in 2024
A source close to Teddi confirmed that that reality star had set up a will as she faces the ‘very real possibility’ she may not make it through this health battle
‘This is definitely the hardest thing [I’ve faced in my life], but now it feels less hard. When I was in the ICU, it was incredibly difficult because I had no memory. One day, I realized it was my daughter’s birthday, and I couldn’t be there for it. It was really sad. It’s still sad when I can’t be there for my kids the way I’d normally be.’
She has put her divorce from estranged husband Edwin on hold, despite announcing their split late last year after 13 years of marriage.
DailyMail.com previously revealed the reality TV star’s plans to move back into their family home in the wake of her emergency brain surgery.
Teddi had announced her divorce in November, days before DailyMail.com exposed her months-long affair with her German-born horse trainer Simon Schröeder.
Despite being rocked by infidelity claims, Edwin has been focused on helping his wife to recover.
‘Right now, Edwin’s focus is on her recovery and the divorce is off the table,’ an insider said. ‘It is no longer being discussed. His concern is that she gets better.’
On Saturday evening Teddi told fans she was struggling with eye pain due to swelling as she shared an insight into her fight on Instagram.
First, the mom-of-three posted a photo of daughter Dove playing with her ‘bestie’ on a trampoline.
The source noted to DailyMail.com that the star is keeping positive but wants to be ‘realistic’ about her chances and has created a will
Wednesday saw the TV star reveal to USWeekly that the melanoma has now metastasized to her lungs and brain
She wrote: ‘Shortly after this [photo was taken] nurse Kel and @lital_aschkenasy iced me up and got me ready to [lie] in silence and the dark because my eye pain comes back same time every day.’
The following post was a video clip showing her resting with a large blue ice pack on top of her head.
‘Over it. I mean, the same time every single afternoon,’ she said before taking a deep sigh and adding: ‘I can’t even watch my shows.
‘Surgery swelling, please go away. I would owe you one.’
In February, she revealed doctors had discovered multiple brain tumors which required emergency surgery.
The effects of the growing tumors were present for six months before she finally sought medical attention.
She had been suffering from migraines but ignored the pain and kept moving forward as she faced other issues in her life, Teddi said earlier this month on her Two Ts in a Pod podcast with Tamra Judge.
‘I didn’t want to face any of it,’ she said. ‘And I was like, I just need to keep moving forward. And if I keep moving forward, then everything’s going to be fine.’
Elsewhere, she claimed her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills costar Garcelle Beauvais has abandoned her and has not reached out once, unlike Kyle Richards who has been a rock since the start of her cancer battle in 2022.
