After focusing on finding a place to “live a happy life,” Colin Farrell made the heartbreaking decision to enroll his 21-year-old son in a long-term care facility.
Oscar-nominated Irish actor Colin Farrell has opened up about one of the most difficult decisions of his life – placing his 21-year-old son, James, into a long-term care facility.
James, who was born in 2003, was misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler. It wasn’t until he was around two and a half that doctors correctly identified Angelman syndrome – a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities.
Nonverbal and needing round-the-clock support, James’s life expectancy is near-normal, but he will always require assistance. “It’s tricky,” Colin said in a recent interview with Candis Magazine.
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Some parents will say, “I want to take care of my child myself,” and I agree with that. What would be my horror, however, if James’ mother had a car accident tomorrow and I had a heart attack? James is then independent.
While James is still alive and well, Colin and Kim made the wise decision to assist him in entering the care system.
We want to find a place where he can live a full and content life and feel connected, Colin said.
The Batman actor has long been open about raising James, both personally and professionally. From James’ first steps at age four to learning to feed himself by age 19, he has spoken poignantly about the misdiagnosis, the emotional toll, and the small victories.
He told InStyle, “We share in the smallest victories.” I nearly nearly split up when James took his first steps.
Colin also revealed that James, who had struggled with addiction for years, was the catalyst for his decision to end his drug habit in 2006. He once said, “I wasn’t suicidal, but I never had much of a will to live a long time. I want to be his friend and his father as my son grows up.
James’s conservatorship will continue to be managed by Colin and Kim, who filed for him in 2021 in addition to overseeing his medical care, legal affairs, and personal affairs.
The actor’s passion for supporting adult children with intellectual disabilities led to the establishment of the Colin Farrell Foundation, which he helped to establish as a result of his concern for James as he grew into adulthood.
Farrell has used his platform to promote Angelman syndrome and draw attention to the struggles of families who deal with special needs through their experiences.
He made the decision to speak out publicly about James for the first time at the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, saying, “He has enriched my life… but I don’t want to minimize the struggles that so many families go through.”
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Source: Mirror
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