CNN's Rene Marsh Announces Death of 2-Year-Old Son Blake

CNN correspondent Rene Marsh shared via social media on April 15 that 2-year-old son Blake had died after battling pediatric brain cancer. Read her emotional tribute.

By Ryan Gajewski Apr 16, 2021 2:28 AMTags
Rene Marsh, InstagramRene Marsh/Instagram

CNN correspondent Rene Marsh's 2-year-old son has lost his battle with cancer.

On Thursday, April 15, the journalist took to Instagram to share a lengthy tribute to Blake, who passed away on April 14 after being diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2019. She included a carousel of photos that captured the child over the years.

"To my dear sweet Blake aka 'Blakey'," she wrote. "In your 25 months on earth you taught me how much strength I had stored up in reserve that I didn't know I had. You taught me endurance. You taught me a depth of love I have never experienced. You inspired me to keep going when I wanted to give up. You helped me prioritize what is truly important in this life."

Rene, who welcomed Blake with husband Kedric Payne in March 2019, went on to write that her son's special skills included "hugging and kissing on demand," in addition to "top notch" dance moves. 

photos
Celebrity Deaths: 2021's Fallen Stars

"I didn't just lose you Blakey, I lost all my dreams and hopes that a mom has for her son," she shared. "I lost my motherhood and I'm mourning it all."

Rene concluded the note by saying she will be "dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer for the rest of my life." She continued, "Your life was not in vain my sweet angel."

In June 2020, Rene penned an opinion piece for CNN's website entitled, "Wearing a mask isn't political. It could protect my son's life."

In the essay, she explained that her son had been undergoing chemotherapy and added, "Living through a pandemic, as a mom of a child with a cancer diagnosis, is terrifying."

In a follow-up piece published on Feb. 4, 2021, Rene wrote that she and her husband had been assured by doctors for six months that Blake's cancer was in remission. However, in November they were "blindsided" by the news of the cancer's return.

Following the announcement of Blake's passing, she tweeted, "Thank you to all the doctors and nurses at #JohnsHopkins who cared for and loved Blake over the past year and a half."

Latest News