Jimmy Kimmel has been very open about his 7-year-old son’s health struggles since he was born in 2017. Recently, he shared that his son had to undergo another major surgery, the third one in his life. On Monday, Jimmy Kimmel posted a personal update on Instagram. He shared a picture of his son, Billy, smiling in a hospital room. In the caption, he explained what had happened.
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.
Kimmel continued in the caption to thank Billy’s surgeon and other medical professionals at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where his son was operated on and cared for. He also mentioned how meeting other parents at the hospital had affected him personally.
Besides the medical staff, he thanked his wife, family, and friends for being strong and supportive. “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 wrote. “Thank you to my wife Molly for being stronger than is reasonable for any Mom to be.”
At the end of his caption, Kimmel wrote a heartfelt message to his young son.
He wrote, “And Billy, you are the toughest (and funniest) 7-year-old we know.” He added, “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.”
Many of Kimmel’s famous friends commented, echoing the love he 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 Kimmel has continued to thank the people involved in his son’s medical care since he was born.
In April, he celebrated his son’s 7th birthday with a sweet note and updated his followers on Billy’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 a daughter, 9-year-old Jane, with his wife Molly McNearney. He is also father to two children from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy.
