Colin Farrell Gets Candid About His Son’s Angelman Syndrome and the Heart-Wrenching Decision to Plan for His Long-Term Care
In a rare and emotional interview actor Colin Farrell has opened up about one of the bulk personal decisions a parent can face planning for the future of a child with special requirements Farrell s -year-old son James lives with Angelman syndrome a rare neuro-genetic disorder that affects motor skills speech and advancement Now as James transitions into adulthood Farrell and his former partner model Kim Bordenave are making the painful but necessary choice to move him into long-term residential care What Happens If We re Gone Speaking to Candis magazine Farrell didn t shy away from the emotional weight of the decision My horror would be what if I have a heart attack the next day and God forbid James mother Kim has a car crash and she s taken too and then James is on his own he shared It s the kind of question no parent wants to think about but Farrell explained he and Kim felt it was time to act not just for James safety but to ensure he thrives even in their absence We don t want to wait until we re not around to scramble and find a place he explained We want to find somewhere we feel good about where he can be happy where the people caring for him know him and love him A Journey That Started Early James was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome just before his third birthday though signs had appeared well before that Farrell recalls noticing delays in milestones the majority parents take for granted sitting up crawling feeding himself Something just didn t feel right he stated It was tough You know something s different but you don t want to jump to conclusions Eventually we got the right assessment and everything started to make a little more sense Farrell has long been open about the highs and lows of raising a child with a rare condition He describes James as a warrior who s made incredible progress with time patronage and determination One of the biggest milestones was when he started feeding himself Farrell recalled It was messy food everywhere but that smile on his face it was like watching someone win a gold medal Beyond Hollywood Becoming a Voice for Others Farrell s love for his son has inspired him to do more than just be a supportive dad He s also become a strong voice for others navigating similar journeys His latest effort is the launch of the Colin Farrell Foundation a nonprofit focused on supporting young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities particularly those transitioning out of the school system After so a large number of of the services disappear he declared You re left wondering what now What happens next Through the foundation Farrell hopes to create more pathways for people like James to live full connected and meaningful lives That includes housing work opportunities and region aid the kind of structure he s trying to build for his own son The Love of a Father Despite his global fame and busy career Farrell keeps his family close to his heart He shares another son Henry and speaks of both boys with genuine warmth and pride I ve been favored with two incredible kids he disclosed Every day they teach me something new about love resilience and what really matters For now the search continues for the right care home for James one that feels less like a facility and more like a second home Farrell admits the process is intricate but he believes it s the right thing to do not just for James safety but for his long-term happiness and independence This isn t about letting go he added It s about holding on in a different way Making sure he has the life he deserves even when we re not here to guide it
