Jimmy Kimmel recently opened up about his son Billy’s ongoing battle with a congenital heart defect.
Jimmy Kimmel said this about his son’s heart condition
Billy, who is seven, just had his third open-heart surgery. Kimmel and his wife, Molly, have been through a lot, with Billy having his first surgery at only three days old and another one at seven months.
In an Instagram post, Kimmel 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.”
A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart that is present at birth. These defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart, and the arteries and veins near the heart.
They can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart, leading to a variety of health issues.
Reflecting on his time at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Kimmel talked about how humbling it was to see other parents and children going through similar or even tougher situations.
“Walking around this hospital, meeting parents at their most vulnerable, children in pain, and the miracle workers who do everything in their considerable power to save them is a humbling experience,” he said.
Kimmel praised the hospital for its policy of helping families regardless of their financial situation, crediting the Affordable Care Act and generous donations for making this possible.
