Credit: Michael Simon/startraksphoto
Teddi Mellencamp is opening up about her cancer battle and dishing on her “hard” days, the state of her family, her treatment plan, and more.
Months after the 43-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum’s stage 4 melanoma traveled into her lungs and brain, Teddi offered an update on her health as she was dealt devastating news. She also applauded estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, 47, for his support, shared which of her former castmates have been there for her, revealed how her kids have been handling the crisis, and looked ahead to her future.
“I’m fighting for my life, but also for my family’s life and all the people I love,” Teddi revealed to Us Weekly during an interview last month on March 24 — days before learning there were four additional small tumors on her brain.
As she undergoes radiation and immunotherapy, Teddi’s energy level has been declining.
“I’m listening to my body, but also staying active and doing things that I love because when I do too much laying [around], I get pretty sad. On the days I’m feeling low, I can get really emotional, and if I’m open with the people in my life, then I have an easier time resting. When I try to pretend I’m OK and resting, it’s hard for me,” she shared.
Looking back at the moment in which Edwin rushed her to the emergency room due to migraines, intense pain, and vision loss, Teddi said doctors found six brain tumors and two lung tumors.
“They had been there for six months to a year, and we had no idea,” she explained.
In addition to Edwin’s care, Teddi also received help from Kyle Richards, 56, who “called around” and got her into Cedar Sinai, where an “incredible surgeon” removed four tumors from her brain in about 24 hours.
“Kyle saved the day,” she recalled.
“My dad came, all my siblings, friends from all over the country. Edwin was on a mission to make sure every single person I love and care about came to visit me,” she continued about her time in the hospital. “[And] my dad hates L.A., so the fact that he was out here for 18 days — wow. That says a lot.”
Before learning there were more tumors in her brain on March 26, Teddi was scheduled to meet with doctors in June to find out what was next.
“If you need to do another round, if there’s any other surgery, if it’s the end. It’s a hard pill to swallow,” she admitted, before sharing one of the saddest parts about her 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.”
“Everybody wants me to be super positive all the time. One of my coping mechanisms is being sarcastic. I’d rather joke about it and have the best possible outcome than be completely in denial and have my heart broken,” she added when asked about facing mortality.
Although she didn’t “[care] that much” about shaving her head, Teddi did struggle with her body changing.
“The first time I went to work out … I’m sitting there bald, my entire body looked completely different because [of the] steroids. I tried to run, and I couldn’t. That was pretty devastating to me,” she disclosed.
While Teddi’s physical changes are unavoidable, she is experiencing less emotional drama after she and Edwin agreed to put their divorce “on hold” as they continue to live under the same roof, but in different rooms.
“[It] wasn’t really the time to be fighting over emails. He’s been extremely kind and helping with the kids. That’s made things a lot easier,” she noted. “The second that I got sick, he completely changed … He’s been there for me a hundred percent, he’s been there for the kids, and we’re back to laughing.”
When asked what led to her split from Edwin, Teddi stated, “I think we didn’t communicate exactly what we needed. When that happens over time, you start to lose what you were happiest with.”
In addition to co-parenting with Edwin, Teddi has put her kids, daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, 5, and son Cruz, 10, in therapy in hopes of helping them navigate this challenging situation.
According to Teddi, who was known to always tell her kids, “Moms always come back,” she hasn’t uttered the phrase since her return from the hospital in February.
“They all know that I’m fighting the hardest I possibly can, but I haven’t said [it] because I don’t want to lie to them. And I don’t know,” she confessed.
Moving on to her former RHOBH castmates, Teddi admitted she hasn’t heard from all of them.
“[Garcelle Beauvais] has not reached out. [Dorit Kemsley] has [since I called her out]. I’m good friends with [Erika Jayne], so she said, ‘Dorit does want to reach out to you now, can she?’ I [said], ‘Don’t know how quick I’ll be to forgive, but sure.’ But then her message was so nice that I have to say we’ll probably be fine,” she shared.
Then, after praising Kyle for being there for her “nonstop,” she joked about the other ladies who’ve contacted her.
“My favorite part about [Vicki Gunvalson] reaching out is that she sent a Housewives coloring book that I’m not in. [Denise Richards] reached out, which was also a little bit of a shocker,” Teddi revealed.
As for her dating life, Teddi confirmed she’s on Hinge because she’s “still on the waitlist” for Raya.
“There’s only been two guys I’ve actually gone on dates with. The first one asked me if I wanted to have more kids, and I was like, ‘I’m in the hospital. This isn’t really the right time, bud. I have a head wrap on. I just learned my own birth date,’ but the other guy is super nice, super sweet, kind — exactly what I need right now,” she teased.
As she looks forward, Teddi is hoping to get “back to normal.”
“I want to try new things, travel more with the kids, keep building a life and doing the best that we can, and have fun together. That’s my goal,” she explained.
Teddi is also continuing to ride horses, des
