Serena And Venus Williams’ Nephew Passes Away at 21

Serena and Venus Williams’ nephew, Alphonse, has died by suicide at the age of 21.

His mother, Sabrina Williams, shared the heartbreaking news with The Sun on Monday. She is the tennis stars’ half-sister from Richard Williams’ first marriage to Betty Johnson and has been estranged from the family.

Alphonso, Sabrina’s youngest of two boys, took his life on February. 3 after he was diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease.

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“When my son attempted his life two and a half years ago, I asked God, save his life and give me a little bit more time, please,” Sabrina told The Sun. “And God answered my prayers. He did. He gave me two and a half years more than I expected.”

“I knew he was on loan and God called in that loan.”

Sabrina shares that the 21-year-old also had bipolar disorder.

“He was crying last Monday, hysterical crying. The week before, the doctor confirmed what he already knew, that he had Peyronie’s,” Sabrina who lives in Las Vegas with her 23-year-old son Elijah Williams, told the outlet. “He had started back at high school; he was going into his fourth semester of computer engineering and was regularly seeing a counselor.”

As for what killed her son, Sabrina believes he overdosed on an unknown medication.

“It’s going to take six to eight weeks for the coroner to find out what he bought. We know he’s taken some strong medicines which would have made him fall asleep, he would have gone into respiratory distress, but wouldn’t have known. He just never woke up.”

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She adds that her son Elijah is currently going through the denial stage of grieving.

“My older son is still sending texts to his phone, talking about sports, he doesn’t want to let go, that’s part of his grieving process. I can ask God why didn’t he take some damn frickin’ serial killer? Or child molester or something? But I will never know the answer,” she adds.

According to Sabrina, Alphonse was a “serious athlete” who “went to the gym” religiously and was “165 pounds of pure muscle.”

“He became a vegan, he joined a couple of clubs,” she explains, “but the news that he got from the doctor…”

“I truly believe that if my son got some help, somebody was able to talk to him, I think he would still be here,” she adds. “When he got the news, he just couldn’t handle it.”

Sabrina has also dealt with her own bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts, but was able to find the proper ways to cope.

“I told my family and was put in [a] hospital for three days. You need to speak to someone,” she says. “Mental health is a disease, but I want to tell other people: ‘You can get through this'”.

For his funeral, Sabrina has asked those who wish to attend Alphonse’s funeral to wear Batman or DC Comics T-shirts, all of which he was a huge fan of. His favorite hits by Taylor Swift and P!nk will also be played at the service.

From there, mourners will then get a chance to visit Alphonse’s favorite vegan restaurant.

“After that, it’s going to be a mission to reach out to help other people, it will be his legacy, I miss my baby,” she says. “That’s my life goal. I have an unconditional desire to help people.”

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What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which scar tissue can cause the penis to curve. This disease can be painful for men and cause them to struggle with getting an erection.

A third of those who suffer from Peyronie’s disease also deal with “serious depression.”

“It can be a traumatic experience for a man,” says John Mulhall, MD, director of the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “There are about one-third of men who will say, ‘I’m not physically impaired, but I looked at it and I don’t even recognize it. It doesn’t look like my penis anymore.”

Peyronie’s disease signs and symptoms might appear suddenly or develop gradually. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common signs and symptoms include:

• Scar tissue. The scar tissue associated with Peyronie’s disease — called plaque but different from plaque that can build up in blood vessels — can be felt under the skin of the penis as flat lumps or a band of hard tissue.
• A significant bend to the penis. Your penis might curve upward or downward or bend to one side.
• Erection problems. Peyronie’s disease might cause problems getting or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction). But, often men report erectile dysfunction before the beginning of Peyronie’s disease symptoms.
• Shortening of the penis. Your penis might become shorter as a result of Peyronie’s disease.
• Pain. You might have penile pain, with or without an erection.
• Other penile deformities. In some men with Peyronie’s disease, the erect penis might have narrowing, indentations or even an hourglass-like appearance, with a tight, narrow band around the shaft.

RELATED: 4 Ways to Support Men Through Mental Health Struggles

Getting support

Here are some steps you can take if you need emotional support to deal with PD provided by Everyday Health:

1. Find the right provider. The American Urological Association has an online tool that allows you to search for local urologists by specialty. You can use keywords such as “sexual function” and “erectile dysfunction” in your search. Dr. Mulhall also recommends asking a doctor you trust for a referral to a urologist with experience treating the condition if you notice any symptoms of PD. Be sure the urologist you choose has additional resources you may need for treatment, including referrals to a mental health professional.
2. Talk to a mental health professional.  Talking to a mental health professional who specializes in family relations and sexual issues can be helpful even if you’re already undergoing treatment for PD because they can provide emotional support for dealing with the condition and any effects it may have on your sex life and relationships.
3. Communicate with your partner. Talk to your partner regularly about how the two of you can maintain physical intimacy. Communication with your partner is a vital part of the process of treatment, according to Dr. Mulhall. “To be honest, most of the couples I see relating to Peyronie’s disease don’t need couples therapy,” he notes. “However, some men with PD become avoidant of sexual activity, so they are perceived by their partners as having low sex drive and disinterest. That results in a buildup of resentment, and then the partner withdraws. Then they both get into a spiral.”

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support.