Teddi Mellencamp shares touching moment with her son while battling stage 4 melanoma.

Teddi Mellencamp is drawing strength from an unexpected source as she continues her harrowing battle with stage 4 cancer—her children’s humour and wisdom. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, recently took to Instagram Stories to share a lighthearted yet poignant moment with her son Cruz that helped her put things into perspective.

“Sometimes kids say things that really put things into perspective,” she said, walking on a treadmill in a video update for her fans. Mellencamp—who shares three children, Slate (12), Cruz (10), and Dove (5), with estranged husband Edward Arroyave—has undergone multiple surgeries to remove tumours from both her brain and lungs following her melanoma diagnosis.

In the video, she recounted a sweet exchange with Cruz. “Yesterday Cruz said, ‘Why are you worried about that?’” referencing the scar on the side of her head left by recent brain surgery. “You’ve got enough rizz for that,” he told her.

Laughing, Mellencamp admitted she didn’t initially know what “rizz” meant. “True, I mean I didn’t know what rizz was, but I learned,” she said, before signing off with a smile: “It’s good, I’m a huge dork enjoying my walk. Have a great day guys.”

The reality star was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, but her condition has since advanced. Just last month, she revealed that more tumours had been discovered in her brain and lungs—news that brought with it the grim reality of an uncertain future.

On a recent episode of her Two Ts in a Pod podcast, co-hosted with Tamra Judge, Mellencamp opened up about ignoring her worsening symptoms for six months. She had been experiencing frequent migraines but continued to push through, focusing on other stresses in her life instead of seeking medical attention. When she finally did, the prognosis was far more serious than she had feared.

Her current treatment journey includes monitoring the tumours’ growth and managing the side effects of surgery and ongoing therapy. Despite this, Mellencamp has remained active on social media, using her platform not just to update fans, but to raise awareness about skin cancer and the importance of early detection.

Her children, particularly Cruz, continue to be a source of light during this dark chapter. The now-viral comment about having “enough rizz” served as a reminder to Mellencamp that beauty and confidence don’t rest in physical appearances alone—especially when battling something as monumental as cancer.

Support has flooded in from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Messages of love, encouragement, and admiration for her honesty and strength continue to pour in online. Mellencamp’s raw approach—showing vulnerability while still finding reasons to smile—has resonated with many going through similar experiences.

While she remains realistic about the severity of her diagnosis, Mellencamp is focused on cherishing the time she has with her family, finding joy in everyday moments, and empowering others to be vigilant with their health.

As she bravely moves forward, it’s clear that Teddi Mellencamp’s story is one not just of survival, but of finding resilience through the eyes of her children—who continue to remind her, even in the simplest of words, that she is stronger than her scars.