Influencer Jennifer Burnham has shared the devastating circumstances surrounding the death of her four-year-old son, Baxter.
The content creator, from California, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a heartfelt video as she spoke directly to camera.
Speaking from inside her car, Burnham opened by thanking followers for their messages of support.
“I wanted to come on here and talk about what happened to our son because I know there are a lot of questions, and I didn’t answer that in my original post,” she said.
The mother, who shares one-year-old son Barron with her husband, Bryce, said the past week and a half had been overwhelming. “It has all been such a blur,” she explained.
Burnham described Baxter as a healthy and cheerful four-year-old who attended school, played T-ball, practiced karate and had many friends. “He was just the happiest little guy,” she said.
“He couldn’t have been happier or healthier, and I think that is why this was so shocking,” Burnham continued. In April, however, Baxter was diagnosed with a brain tumor—something she said she had never imagined could happen to her family.
Before the diagnosis, Burnham said she noticed Baxter had begun “crossing his left eye.”
Influencer Jennifer Burnham has revealed the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the death of her four-year-old son, Baxter.
The couple sought medical advice and arranged surgery for Baxter. An MRI scan was required before the procedure could go ahead.
“When we did the MRI, they told us that they found a brain tumor,” Burnham said through tears.
Doctors ultimately diagnosed Baxter with diffuse midline glioma, a rare and highly aggressive cancerous tumor affecting the brain and spinal cord.
“In the brain tumor world, it is essentially the worst type of brain tumor that you can have,” Burnham said. “It’s inoperable, meaning it’s incurable.”
Three days later, Baxter underwent surgery to remove part of the tumor before beginning targeted radiation treatment.
Burnham and her husband also searched for additional options, pursuing therapies that included red light treatment, hyperbaric oxygen and oxygen baths.
The family traveled to Europe twice in an effort to access treatments they had learned about overseas.
Burnham said they consulted experts across the United States and explored every avenue available, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
“He couldn’t have been happier or healthier,” Burnham said, describing the shock of Baxter’s brain tumor diagnosis in April.
“It’s so difficult to watch your child go through something like this and feel completely helpless. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said.
“We’ve been living in this nightmare for six months, and it’s the most difficult thing we’ve ever gone through.”
Burnham added: “We literally did everything possible for our child, as any parent would in this situation, to help him, cure him and find a way out.”
‘He was so strong and such a fighter and literally fought until the very last day.’
She emotionally continued: ‘I’m so proud of him because no child should ever go through this. No parent should ever go through this. I hate that our family is going through this.’
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Burnham said she was sharing the experience in case it reaches other parents who are going through similar situations, adding: ‘I want to be that person that can help another family.
‘No person should go through this alone and we fought so hard and we did everything.
‘I know in my heart that he is in a much better place right now because no child should be suffering like that. I know he’s in Heaven.’
She concluded by admitting her ‘heart is broken,’ sharing: ‘I’m not sure how to continue living every day because it is so hard to fathom my life without him because he was such a big full part of it.’
Burnham added the caption: ‘I know a lot of you have questions on what happened to our son so I’m answering everything here. Hoping I can help anyone going through a similar situation.’
Baxter was eventually diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma – a rare, aggressive cancerous brain and spinal cord tumor
Earlier this week, the mom had shared a heartbreaking compilation video featuring clips of son Baxter from over the years
Earlier this week, the mom had shared a heartbreaking compilation video featuring clips of son Baxter from over the years.
She uploaded it alongside a lengthy caption that read: ‘Heaven welcomed our angel Baxter on Monday, October 5.
‘Baxter from the moment you were born, you have always been our dream come true.
‘You have the most perfect angelic face and the sweetest personality.’
The post continued: ‘You are always kind to everyone and always love holding a car in each hand or a bag of them with you everywhere you go.
‘You love your family, cars, chocolate chip cookies, karate, and all of your friends. You pick mommy flowers every day on our walks.’
Burnham concluded: ‘We miss you too much but we know you are still with us every day, watching over mommy, daddy and your baby brother Barron from heaven. We love you always and forever.’
She took to her Instagram Story a short time later to share an emotional poem by author Sara Rian.
It read: ‘While their life was short, the love is everlasting. While they were small, the love is big.
‘So big that the universe had to stretch to hold it. But it is held. They are held.’
The internet personality has built up a legion of more than 96,000 followers due to her lifestyle content – with a focus on motherhood and cooking videos.
In January, Burnham proudly celebrated Baxter’s fourth birthday with a Hot Wheels themed party.
‘Happy 4th birthday to the boy that made me a mama!’ she penned.
‘Baxter, your love of cars, trucks, and chocolate chip cookies is just the very best.
‘I love you so much and can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for you,’ she wrote.