Model Erin McNaught Shares Emotional Update as 8-Month-Old Son Recovers from Surgery to Remove ‘Massive’ Brain Tumor

Australian model Erin McNaught has shared an emotional update following her eight-month-old son Obi’s surgery to remove a “massive” brain tumor — just weeks after his diagnosis.

In a joint Instagram post with her partner, record producer Stasi Kotaras, McNaught, 43, opened up about the harrowing experience and Obi’s remarkable recovery. “It’s one month today since Obi had surgery to remove a massive brain tumor that he was only diagnosed with a few days prior,” she wrote on July 14.

Reflecting on the terrifying moment before the operation, McNaught shared, “While he went to the hospital, I stayed back a little longer, trying to process what was about to happen. I stood on the balcony, watched the sunrise, and sobbed so hard I couldn’t breathe. The thought that it could be the last sunrise we’d see with him was unbearable.”

Thankfully, Obi pulled through the surgery. “We returned to that same balcony to watch the sunset together and cried again — this time with relief,” McNaught wrote. “Since then, Obi has blown us away with his recovery.”

McNaught gave birth to Obi in October 2024. She also has two older sons — Evander, 10, and Ennio, 7 — with her ex-husband, U.K. rapper Example. The rapper showed his support in the comments, writing, “Love you all ❤️😘.”

In touching footage shared alongside the update, McNaught and Kotaras cradle their sleeping son in the hospital. Other clips show Obi resting with bandages wrapped around his head and smiling sweetly at home during recovery.

Obi was first diagnosed in June after his parents noticed he was having trouble eating, sleeping, and showing signs of behavioral decline. A doctor recommended an MRI, which revealed a large tumor on the right side of his brain.

“We were absolutely shattered,” McNaught previously wrote in a June 12 post. “The last few days have been the hardest of our lives.”

Despite the heartbreak, McNaught praised the staff at Queensland Children’s Hospital for their incredible care and support during Obi’s treatment.

In her most recent message, she said while Obi’s long-term prognosis remains uncertain, the family is embracing each moment. “We still don’t know what his future holds. But for now, we are filled with joy, and happiness, and a deep sense of gratitude. We hold him close, and we hold our big boys close, and we marvel at our little family — and how lucky we are.”