Major TV star's 7-year-old undergoes third open heart surgery
Jimmy Kimmel's seven-year-old son has undergone his third, and hopefully final open heart surgery after being born with congenital heart disease.
In 2017, Jimmy revealed that Billy was only three days old when had to undergo his first open heart surgery, after doctors found “a hole in the wall of the left and right side of his heart” that was preventing enough oxygen from reaching his blood.
Billy was only seven months old when he had to undergo his second open heart surgery, and over the weekend he had to undergo his third major surgery at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
A few days later, the TV host took to Instagram to share an update following his son's successful 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," Kimmel wrote, alongside a picture of his youngest son smiling in a hospital bed.
He then thanked all the surgeons, doctors and other medical staff who "came through for us with immeasurable kindness and expertise."
"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," Kimmel continued.
He then highlighted the hospital's dedication to providing help to families "regardless of their ability to pay".
Jimmy then extended his thanks to his family and friends and the "loving strangers who took time to pray for and send positive energy to our baby".
He gave a special shout out to his wife Molly – for "being stronger than is reasonable for any Mum to be". The pair also share daughter Jane, nine.
The late night TV host then praised his son for being "the toughest (and funniest) 7 year-old we know."
"There are so many parents and children who aren't fortunate enough to go home after five days," he added and encouraged his followers to send their thoughts and prayers to these families.
Image: Instagram/ X