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Cindy Crawford expressed her love for son Presley Gerber in a sweet birthday tribute shared just two months before his death.
“Happy birthday @presleygerber 🎂 I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy! Love you ❤️,” Crawford, 60, wrote via Instagram on July 2.
Alongside her message, Crawford shared a throwback photo from her son’s childhood and a more recent selfie.
News broke on Sunday, September 20, that Presley died at the age of 27.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” read a statement to Us from the Crawford-Gerber family.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Presley was at a rehab facility when he died. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
In an interview published days before Presley’s death, Crawford opened up about her new life as an empty nester. (The supermodel also shares daughter Kaia Gerber with husband Rande Gerber.)
“When they become adults, all of a sudden you’re like, ‘OK, I’ve got to back off here.’ It might not be the way I would do it, but you know,” she told PORTER magazine this month.
Crawford continued, “When you get married, you talk about what kind of family you want or where we’re going to live. But no one ever talks about what this phase looks like, empty nesting, because it’s so far away you can’t even imagine it. But it’s an opportunity for us to redefine our relationship.”
Crawford noted that it’s been “fun” to figure out what her next chapter with Rande looks like. She also revealed that she’s “looking forward” to becoming a grandmother someday.
“I’m at the age where a lot of my friends are starting to have grandkids, and even though I don’t think either one of my kids is close, I do hope I get to experience that, because it looks really fun,” she said.
Ahead of his death, Presley spoke candidly about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse. In what would become his final public appearance, Presley was joined by his parents at the We Are ENOUGH x Aviator Nation launch event at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu on June 11, where he opened up about his journey.
“The most free I felt was when I was finally honest with myself,” he said at the time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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