Colin Farrell reveals “tricky” reason he’s finding care for his son with Angelman syndrome
Irish actor Colin Farrell has revealed he’s looking to find full-time care for his 21-year-old son, James, who has Angelman syndrome.
The rare neurological disorder affects speech, movement and development, which means that those with Angelman syndrome. While it doesn’t impact life expectancy, it often requires lifelong care, which is why Farrell is now ensuring that care is in place for James.
“It’s tricky – some parents will say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself’, and I respect that,” Farrell revealed in a new interview with Candis.
Farrell revealed that he’s putting care into place while he and his ex-wife, Kim Bordenave, are healthy because he’s aware that the situation could change, which would leave James in an unfortunate predicament.
He shared: “But my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own? And he goes where? We’d have no say in it.”
Farrell stated that he and Bordenave are currently trying to “find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we’re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes.”
The Penguin star continued: “We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.”
Last year, the actor launched the Colin Farrell Foundation in honour of James, with the charity aiming to help adults with intellectual disabilities and provide programmes to improve their lives.
Upon announcing the charity, Farrell told People: “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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