Michelle Kennedy, the fiancee of TV chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, has described the possibility that their three-year-old son Valentino may never talk as 'terrifying'. Valentino, who has already overcome stage four neuroblastoma, was diagnosed with severe autism earlier this year.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, Kennedy, 44, said: 'He's very active and dynamic, and takes me by the hand to show me things. But he won't talk and I'm longing to hear him say "Mummy".' She added that she has been assured that once he starts talking, 'we won't be able to stop him'.
The couple, who have been together for 11 years and have two other sons, Jean, 11, and Jacques, seven, have educated themselves about autism to cope with the diagnosis. Kennedy said: 'We didn't know anything about the condition and when we heard words associated with it, such as 'non-verbal', we were frightened. Did this mean that we would never hear Valentino speak? It was a terrifying thought.'
Novelli, 58, previously spoke on ITV's Good Morning Britain about the diagnosis, praising Kennedy as a 'tower of strength'. He said: 'Obviously, two weeks ago we found out the news that he is severely autistic. My wife, I don't know how she copes. I keep saying, he's alive. It's another area where we don't know how to cope.'
The family plan to spend Christmas at home together. Novelli joked that his Christmas present to Kennedy is doing the washing-up, while his Christmas wish is to have another child. Kennedy added: 'Whenever he says this, it makes me want one, too. I've always wanted a little girl and I'd call her Bridie, after my nan.'
