Just two months before Presley Gerber's death, Cindy Crawford celebrated her son's 27th birthday with a message that captured both her pride in the man he had become and her memories of the little boy she had raised.
The supermodel shared two childhood photographs on Instagram in July, accompanying them with a loving tribute to her eldest child.
"I'm so proud of the man you've become, but I'll always see you as my little boy! Love you," she wrote.
© InstagramPresley died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records cited by ABC News. He was the only son of Cindy and her husband, businessman Rande Gerber, and the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber.
A family representative told HELLO!: "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time." HELLO! has contacted the family's representative.
© InstagramCindy Crawford's support for son Presley Gerber
Cindy's birthday tribute was one of several public messages of encouragement she shared with her son as he spoke about his experiences with addiction and recovery.
In March, Presley posted an Instagram video about undergoing treatment. His mother responded in the comments, writing: "You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!"
Rande also left a deeply personal message beneath his son's post, recognising the courage it had taken to seek help.
"I'm so proud of you and your courage. Facing what's hard takes real strength, and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much," he wrote.
The comments offered a glimpse of the encouragement Presley received from his parents while navigating difficulties he had chosen to discuss publicly.
© WWD via Getty ImagesWhat Kaia Gerber said about her brother
Kaia, 25, spoke about the impact of her brother's addiction on their family in an interview published by Vogue in August.
"When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone," she said.
"I think that's also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing."
Kaia also explained how proud she was of Presley's willingness to be open, particularly within a family that had usually kept its personal experiences private.
"My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn't share anything," she said. "And now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, 'I'm gonna be very human for everyone.' There's only so much you can hide from the world."
© WWD via Getty ImagesPresley Gerber's openness about his struggles
Presley had previously spoken about his mental health in videos shared on Instagram, describing difficult periods in his life and the help he had sought.
"Unfortunately, I've had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it's the reason why I am where I'm at now," he said in one video.
His public reflections prompted expressions of support from those closest to him. Under his March treatment post, Kaia joined their parents in celebrating her brother's efforts.
"That's my brother I am so damn proud," she wrote, in a comment reported by People.
For Cindy, the pride she expressed throughout those months sat alongside the enduring tenderness of being his mother. Her birthday message ended with a simple reminder of that bond: "I'll always see you as my little boy! Love you."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
