Teddi Mellencamp Expresses Gratitude to Father John Following His Recent Brain Surgery Recovery

Teddi Mellencamp has been showering her father, John Mellencamp, with gratitude following her intense struggle with cancer. In a heartfelt Instagram post on October 24, Teddi, 44, expressed her appreciation for her father’s unwavering support during her challenging journey. Accompanying her message was a touching photo featuring the famous rock musician alongside her daughters, Slate and Dove.

“It’s been 10 months since my brain surgery, and I am so grateful to @johnmellencamp for being a constant presence for me and my family throughout,” she wrote. She added a light-hearted note, “Now that I’m clear of the disease, it seems I can take photos without being in them, so I guess we’re all healing 🤣. Love you so much, Cougs. Thank you for everything ❤️.”

This heartfelt tribute follows a recent positive update about Teddi’s health. She had previously disclosed a daunting diagnosis of stage IV melanoma that had spread to her lungs and brain. To confront her aggressive illness, she underwent brain surgery to excise the tumors. After additional tumors were discovered in March, she was faced with a stark 50/50 survival prognosis.

Fans of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills might recall Teddi’s resilience during her three-season run on the show, where she navigated numerous conflicts and challenges. However, nothing could have fully prepared her for the life-altering fight against cancer she’s currently enduring. In a candid conversation with Us Weekly, she shared, “I’m fighting for my life, but also for my family’s life and all the people I care about.”

“Just to give a little life update to you guys, I had my immunotherapy yesterday and they did my scans,” Mellencamp said during the October 3 episode of iHeartRadio’s “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast. “And at this point, there is no detectable cancer.”

Because she will continue to stay on immunotherapy for a year, Teddi explained that despite there being no detectable cancer she is “I’m “not considered in remission or anything like that.”

“When they told me, I was in such shock,” she added. “I was, like, numb.”

“And [the doctor’s] like, ‘No it’s only because that’s how long immunotherapy has been around so that’s how long the study has worked,’” Mellencamp said during an April interview on Nightline. “So that’s when I then try to find the positive.”

While the latest update is a positive one, the former reality star has been careful to make it clear that she has a long way to go before she’s in the clear.

“I’m still going to be having days where I’m feeling sick and stuff because I still am in immunotherapy. So, I’m still fighting,” she explained. “The way they said it works, it’s like a year, then two years, then at three years, you’re allowed to be considered in remission

In addition to her dad, Teddi has also received support from her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave. The pair, who separated in October 2024, share son Cruz, 11, along with daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, 5. Teddi cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause for their split.

“After a great deal of care and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to file for divorce,” Mellencamp announced via Instagram in November 2024. “My priority is my children and ensuring that every care is taken with their privacy and wellbeing throughout this new chapter.”

The duo have continued to live together through the separation, something Arroyave, 48, addressed during an August episode of “The Eds” podcast.

“We’re just, you know, we’re great friends, and you know, I want to make sure she’s taken care of, but we’ve maintained that great relationship,” he said. “So even though we’re separated and we’re estranged, and we’re still planning on divorcing, like, we’re still friends. I still see her as a friend.”