On September 15, 2023, Ariana Cooper, the wife of Sum 41’s frontman Deryck Whibley, shared a heartfelt Instagram post that sent shockwaves through their fans. In a somber announcement, Cooper revealed that her husband had been diagnosed with pneumonia and was currently hospitalized. The couple had spent a harrowing night in the emergency room, with the uncertain days ahead looming heavily on their minds. Pneumonia, it seemed, was the latest battle in Whibley’s ongoing health journey.
“The scariest part is that there is a lot of strain on his heart and they are telling us that there is a possibility of heart failure,” Ariana disclosed in the Instagram post.
In the midst of their fears and uncertainty, Cooper called upon their supporters to keep Deryck Whibley in their thoughts and prayers. She acknowledged that this wasn’t the first time they had found themselves in such a situation, recounting past memories of Whibley in a hospital bed, connected to wires and IVs.
“I’ll do my best to keep everyone updated but if you could keep him in your heart over the next few days, we could really use it,” she wrote in the caption.
The couple’s marriage dates back to 2015, and their journey together has been marked by shared health struggles and unwavering support.
A Challenging Beginning
Ariana Cooper, born to Jolie and Brent Cooper, grew up with two siblings and pursued a career in modeling. With over 16.5K followers on Instagram, she has carved her own path in the world of fashion.
Deryck Whibley and Ariana Cooper crossed paths shortly after Whibley’s divorce from renowned singer Avril Lavigne in 2010. Whibley and Lavigne had tied the knot in 2006 but parted ways four years later in 2010.
The couple, Deryck Whibley and Ariana Cooper, faced health challenges right from the beginning of their relationship. When they began dating in 2014, Whibley was battling a serious drinking problem. During that time, Ariana witnessed her future husband, the Sum 41 vocalist, collapse in their kitchen, succumbing to kidney and lung failures.
In a life-saving act of love and quick thinking, Cooper rushed Whibley to the hospital, where doctors placed him in an induced coma for a week to facilitate his detoxification. This harrowing experience marked the start of Ariana and Deryck’s shared journey to sobriety. It’s important to note that just a year prior, in 2013, Ariana herself had grappled with depression and made a suicide attempt.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, the couple candidly shared their experiences with these tumultuous times.
“Coming to terms with the fact that it wasn’t just alcohol that had caused all of these issues, that it was just a part of who I was, was really difficult. But because of therapy, I was able to start opening up more to myself and to Deryck,” Ariana revealed in the interview.
She went on to explain that as a result of therapy, her husband began asking her deeper and more meaningful questions, fostering a relationship where they held back nothing from each other.
The turning point for Deryck Whibley and Ariana Cooper’s relationship arrived when Whibley performed at the memorial for Chester Bennington in 2017, just months after the Linkin Park vocalist’s tragic suicide.
This performance ultimately led to Whibley’s creation of the single “Catching Fire” and set the stage for years of therapeutic work for both of them. At present, Deryck Whibley and Ariana Cooper Whibley are loving parents to Lydon Igby and Quentin Arlo Whibley.
Their relationship is a testament to the strength of love, resilience, and the power of facing life’s challenges together. As Deryck Whibley continues his battle against pneumonia, he does so with the unwavering support of his loving wife, Ariana Cooper, by his side.