Colin Farrell reveals son James' devastating misdiagnosis before Angelman syndrome confirmed
Colin Farrell's son James, now 20, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, but symptoms initially led doctors to believe it was something else
Colin Farrell has revealed his son James was tragically misdiagnosed prior to doctors confirming he has Angelman syndrome.
James, now 20, was diagnosed at a young age with the rare neurological disorder 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 will require support throughout their life.
The Hollywood actor has now opened up on discovering his son's syndrome and explained how it was initially thought to be something else. Colin, who shares James with his ex-partner Kim Bordenave, said the syndrome is often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to both conditions having similar symptoms.
Speaking candidly to PEOPLE Magazine, the Phone Booth star, 48, said: "[James] couldn't sit up. He wasn't crawling. I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy."
READ MORE: Who is Kim Bordenave - the mother of Colin Farrell's son with ultra-rare condition
READ MORE: Colin Farrell issues update on son who has rare Angelman syndrome
Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination. It's caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during or soon after birth, according to the NHS website.
Colin continued: "It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure."
He went on to say it wasn't until James was around two and a half that he was correctly diagnosed, explaining how a paediatric neurologist advised he was tested for Angelman syndrome. After the correct diagnosis was confirmed, Colin confessed he had two important questions he had to ask doctors.
"I remember the first two questions I asked were, 'What’s the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?' Colin said. "And the doctor said, 'Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no'."
The star was speaking after launching the Colin Farrell Foundation, which he hopes will provide support for adult children with intellectual disability. He said that once James turns 21 he would be "kind of on his own" as all the safeguards that are provided to younger people with disabilities are taken away.
He explained the foundation had been part of his thoughts for a number of years, but now was the right time to make the step to launch it.
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