Howie Mandal Shares Update on Grandson Axel’s Cancer Diagnosis

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Howie Mandel is sharing his grandson’s diagnosis for the first time.

America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell and his daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, have revealed they dealt with their son Axel’s cancer diagnosis privately. Axel is 9 years old.

Howie explained that they developed very specific ways of dealing with the situation, adding, “It’s an autoimmune issue-leukemia, actually.” He noted that this was the first time they had publicly discussed his diagnosis on camera, sharing the information alongside his daughter during an interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger.

Howie, age 69, explained that he and his podcast co-host, Jackelyn, had a difficult time dealing with both the emotional pain of their son Axel’s illness and the negative judgments of others, as they chose to keep the diagnosis private.

Howie explained that occasionally, guests on their podcast would show up with a cold, and they would be wearing a mask.

You know, I recently dealt with a really tough situation online. I was getting so much negativity and harsh criticism, simply because people *assumed* I didn’t share their views. It was incredibly frustrating because they had absolutely no idea what was actually going on in my life. I was actually struggling to be able to visit my son, who was in the hospital, and all they focused on was a perceived political disagreement. It just highlighted how easy it is to jump to conclusions online without knowing the full story.

Axel was diagnosed with leukemia while his family was on vacation in Hawaii. His parents, Howie and Jackelyn, originally thought he just had the flu. It was a very difficult time for them, but thankfully, they’ve gotten through it.

Howie, who is also a father to Alex, 33, and Riley, 31, shared that they received the diagnosis there. He explained that they brought their father home, and he is currently doing well and in remission.

Howie explained that Jackelyn’s eleven-year-old daughter, Abbey, played a vital role in Axel’s recovery, as he needed a bone marrow transplant from her.

Jackelyn, who married DJ Alex Schulz in 2013, looks back on the family’s experiences during Axel’s health struggles, even though she wasn’t directly affected.

Wiping away tears, she explained that she tries to put the experience behind her and focus on the future. She feels lucky that he’s doing so well now, but admitted it was the most difficult time of her life.

Even though Axel is recovering from his diagnosis, his family is still adjusting to life after his treatments.

It’s devastating to think about coming home to your child and learning they’re seriously ill,” he explained. “It’s been incredibly difficult for the past three or four years, and it remains a challenge. Because his immune system hasn’t developed yet, he can’t attend school. He’s doing well overall, as his leukemia is currently in remission, and we’re focused on rebuilding his immune defenses.

And for Jackelyn, the family’s fight isn’t over.

She explained they were handling the transplant process. It’s a common misconception that cancer treatment is simple; people don’t understand the extensive work involved, not just in fighting the cancer itself, but also in the treatment and the long-term follow-up care. It’s a very lengthy process overall.

Howie values his family’s privacy, but also recognizes how important it is to share their experiences, especially given his own openness about mental health.

He believes there’s a real benefit to being open about his struggles. He’s had many people thank him for sharing his experiences with mental health, especially those who are supporting loved ones with illness. Knowing he’s gone through similar challenges helps them feel less alone and reminds them that others understand what they’re going through, which he feels is really important.

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2025-09-18 16:49