Jimmy Kimmel has been very open about the health struggles his 7-year-old son has been going through since he was born in 2017. The comedian just revealed that his son had to undergo another major surgery for the third time in his life.
On Monday, Jimmy Kimmel took to Instagram to share a personal story from his life. He shared a picture of his seven-year-old smiling in a hospital room, and in the caption, he gave his followers an update about what had transpired.
He wrote, “This weekend, our boy Billy had his third (of three, we hope) open heart surgery. We went into this experience with a lot of optimism and nearly as much fear and came out with a new valve inside a happy, healthy kid,” the relieved dad wrote.
In the caption, Kimmel continued and thanked Billy’s surgeon and other medical professionals at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where his son was operated on and taken care of. The late-night talk show host also touched upon the other parents at the hospital and how meeting them had impacted him personally.
Apart from the medical staff, he also thanked his wife, family, and friends for being strong in the face of this.
“Thanks to those loving strangers who took time to pray for and send positive energy to our baby, thanks to our family and friends for rallying around us to an almost-ridiculous extent,” he went on. “Thank you to my wife Molly for being stronger than is reasonable for any Mom to be.”
In the end of his caption, Kimmel wrote a heartfelt message for his young son.
He wrote, “And Billy, you are the toughest (and funniest) 7 year-old we know.” He went on, “There are so many parents and children who aren’t fortunate enough to go home after five days. Please share your love, hearts and prayers with them and if it moves you, support @ChildrensLA (link in bio) or a great children’s hospital near you (@CMNHospitals). Nothing matters more than taking care of each other. With love and gratitude, Jimmy.”A lot of Kimmel’s famous friends chimed in on the comments, echoing the love he had expressed.
“We love you Billy,” Carson Daly commented. Andy Cohen added, “Love to Billy.”
In 2017, Kimmel tearfully shared in a monologue how his son had been born with a heart defect. The monologue went viral, and in the years since, Kimmel has continued to thank the people involved in the medical care of his son since he was born.
In April, he celebrated his son’s 7th birthday with a sweet note and updated his followers on the young boy’s health.
“Billy turns 7 today and is doing great thanks to the doctors, nurses, therapists and staff at @ChildrensLA & @CedarsSinai,” he wrote in the caption. “Billy is asking friends ‘to give $7 because I’m seven to help kids in the hospital.’ (he also wants a spy kit) His goal is ‘to raise $100 to help sick kids.’ If you’d like to donate – thank you and link in bio.”
“This boy is seven years old because of you,” he wrote with a close up shot of Billy smiling. “Molly and I are overwhelmed by your generous donations to @childrensla and kind messages. Thank you for all the love. We wish you and your families good health and great friends.”
Kimmel also shares daughter 9-year-old Jane, with his wife Molly McNearney. He is also father to two children from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy.