Teddi Mellencamp is fighting not only for her life, but for her family’s future.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum—who is currently battling stage 4 cancer in her brain and lungs—recently got emotional detailing the toll her illness has had on her and estranged husband Edwin Arroyave‘s three kids Slate, 12, Cruz, 10 and Dove, 5.
“I’m like, ‘I don’t think you understand the debilitating pain that I feel some days thinking about the fact that…my kids,” the 43-year-old told ET in an April 17 interview before getting choked up over the thought of leaving her children without a mom. “That is extremely frightening. My kids are young.”
Teddi also detailed how multiple surgeries to remove the spreading tumors plus radiation and immunotherapy have impacted time as a family.
“I remember one day in the hospital I was like, ‘I feel like today might be Dove’s birthday,” the Two Ts in a Pod podcast co-host recounted. “And Edwin’s like, ‘It is. It’s her party today that you planned.’ I was like, ‘Can they please just let me out for today?'”
Teddi noted that Edwin—who has been by her side since her February diagnosis, despite their ongoing divorce—said “exactly what I needed him to say” in that moment.
“He’s like, ‘We’ll throw another one,” she continued. “But my heart broke because I’m wondering, ‘Will she remember that I wasn’t there?'”
Teddi also shared more insight into how her dad, music icon John Mellencamp, has been there to support her after she revealed earlier this month that he’s put plans in place to have her buried in their family plot.
“We were totally joking about the conversation,” the former Bravolebrity said. “I would say there’s definitely been hard conversations, the hardest being if things go wrong, who’s gonna be the person in charge of making those decisions? And those are things nobody wants to think about, but I do. And the way that I get through it is by laughing.”
And even though Teddi recently revealed her doctors have given her a 50/50 chance of survival, she’s nowhere near done fighting for her life, despite all the taxing cancer treatments.
“I would say that today I’m doing well,” she shared. “I’ve learned that it’s okay to be like, ‘I’m tired,’ and listen to my body.”
Keep reading to look back at Teddi’s sweetest family moments with Slate, Cruz and Dove.
Red Carpet Outing
Teddi and Edwin take Slate, Dove and Cruz to the LOL Surprise! The Movie premiere in Los Angeles in 2021.
Disney Days
The family of five enjoy a day of fun at Disneyland and California Adventure with friends in June 2024. “They say it’s a small world,” Teddi wrote on Instagram, “but my feet say otherwise.”
Cruz Cuddles
“I needed this,” Teddi captioned a pic with her youngest. “Thank you.”
Horsin’ Around
“When you jump to a 90 at Junior Hunter Finals at 11-years-old… and WIN the Classic Stake!!” Teddi posted in July 2024 while celebrating her oldest child’s major milestone. “So proud.”
Back to School 2024
“I cried because…?” Teddi wrote on Instagram in August 2024. “1. I’m going to miss them. 2. They’re getting older which means I am too. 3. I can actually work in peace throughout the day. 4. A combination of all the above.”
A Legend’s Birthday
The family honors Teddi’s dad, music legend John Mellencamp, in October 2024.
“Happy birthday, Dads,” she wrote. “It was a gift to be able to spend time with you at the @capitalchallengehorseshow over the weekend. But the last slide is really the gift that keeps on giving. Love you, @johnmellencamp.”
Grandpa Time
Slate, Dove and Cruz enjoy a day with grandpa.
Family Reunion
“Grandpa is 93 and he still will get picked before me for teams in our family football game,” the Bravo alum shared on Instagram. “But I think the even bigger discourse in the fam is pumpkin or apple pie. Which do you prefer?”
Happy Turkeys
Teddi celebrates Thanksgiving 2024 with her three kids.
Christmas 2024
“The North Pole comes to SoCal!” Teddi shared with a festive photo.
Happy New Year
“Raise your hand if you don’t realize you are celebrating the ball drop at 9PM PST,” Teddi shared on New Year’s Eve in 2024. “Who lets their kiddos stay up until midnight local time on NYE (and how do you do it)?”
Dove Turns 5
“Happy birthday to my miracle baby,” the Two T’s in a Pod cohost wrote in February 2025. “Hard to believe it’s been 5 years since you made our lives better and brighter. But no matter how grown you get, you’ll always be My Baby Dovey.”
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