"iCarly" cutie JENNETTE McCURDY is secretly battling a deep personal heartbreak – her mother has suffered a relapse of deadly breast cancer.
Insiders close to the 19-year-old actress/ singer – best-known for playing the sassy Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s hit show “iCarly” – say she had an emotional breakdown after learning that her mother Debra McCurdy’s cancer was back following a 15-year remission.
Making matters worse, doctors have discovered that Debra’s cancer has spread to her brain.
“Jennette has a million different emotions running through her head,” confided a close pal. “There are days where she can barely get out of bed because of her sadness.”
Jennette – who grew up with her three older brothers in Garden Grove, Calif. – recently revealed that her mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 1995. Debra underwent a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, breast surgery and numerous radiation sessions.
Although she survivedthat first battle with cancer, in February 2010 doctors found breast cancer cells in her sinuses, skull, lymph nodes, ribs, sternum, spine and pelvis. And in May the family received the devastating news that the cancer had reached her brain.
To help deal with her grief, Jennette has been focusing on charity work. The aspiring country singer raised nearly $140,000 this spring for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through her “Generation Love” tour.
“Jennette doesn’t want her mom to know how bad she’s hurting so she’s doing her best to keep a smile on her face,” added the source.
“Debra’s dream was for Jennette to be a huge star and make a difference in this world – and all Jennette wants to do is make Debra proud.”
