Colin Farrell issues update on son who has rare Angelman syndrome
Dublin Actor Colin Farrell shared his eldest son James, who was born in September 2003, with his ex, model Kim Bordenave
Colin Farrell has issued an update on his son who has rare Angelman syndrome.
The Dublin actor opened up in an interview about his now 20-year-old son James and the rare neurological disorder he has. Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities.
A person with Angelman syndrome will have a near-normal life expectancy, but they will need support throughout their life. James is non-verbal. Colin has been open about his son's condition and has said once he is 21, he will be "on his own" due to the support not being available.
Speaking to People, he said: "Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own. All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind."
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To overcome this difficulty, Colin is setting up the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support for adult children who have intellectual disabilities. The star said he has wanted to do this for "years" and is finally taking the leap of faith.
Colin went on to say that James has always "worked so hard all his life, so hard". He explained: "Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looks like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I’m proud of him every day, because I just think he’s magic."
The actor explained that when James was a baby, he wasn't hitting some developmental milestones . He wasn't able to sit up, crawl or walk which then led to a common misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy aged one.
When James turned two, a doctor suggested that he needed to be tested for Angelman syndrome. Developmental delays can be the first signs of the syndrome and can begin between about six and 12 months.
Colin previously filed for conservatorship of James, along with his ex Kim Bordenave back in 2021, so they are able to manage his personal needs and medical decisions for him. They requested for the court to grant them the power to make decisions about his education, control his social and sexual relationships. This includes whether or not he can marry – access confidential records, and grant or refuse permission for medical procedures.
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