Emily B has been waiting for the right moment to tell the world that her youngest daughter is autistic “because some Journeys feel sacred.”
For World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), the “Love and Hip Hop” star, whose full name is Emily Bustamante, opened up about her five-year-old daughter’s diagnosis, sharing that she also is nonverbal and has sensory processing issues.
“She experiences the world differently. She’s changed me in ways I still can’t fully put into words,” Bustamante, 45, wrote in a post on Instagram, featuring a family photo shoot of herself with her children and grandchildren.
“There have been moments of fear. Moments of learning. Moments where I had to become stronger than I ever imagined. But more than anything… there has been LOVE.”
Bustamante’s daughter, Journey Isabella, was born in 2020. She is Bustamante’s fourth child, the third with rapper Fabolous. Her eldest daughter, 28-year-old influencer Taina Williams, is from a previous relationship and has two children of her own.
Journey also has a rare congenital condition called PHACE syndrome, according to Bustamante. The condition is described by Boston Children’s Hospital as “a collection of disorders characterized by a large infantile hemangioma,” a noncancerous tumor that can appear as a red or purple mark on the skin.
In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, the announcement was also coupled with the launch of Bustamante’s organization, A Special Journey Foundation. The bio on Instagram says that the foundation will support children with autism and complex diagnoses. She also said she will share more about Journey’s experience and autism awareness.
“Because visibility matters and so does she,” she said.
