Photo: Jimmy Kimmel/Instagram; Getty

Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmelis feeling grateful as he celebrates his sonWilliam “Billy” John’s 5th birthday.

On Thursday, the talk show host, 54, paid tribute to his son with a sweet post onInstagram, in which he expressed his appreciation for the doctors and nurses that helped to save Billy, who was born with a congenital heart condition.

“Happy 5th birthday to our little nut. We are eternally grateful to the brilliant doctors and nurses at@ChildrensLA&@CedarsSinaifor saving Billy’s life and to those of you whose donations, prayers and positive thoughts meant everything,” Kimmel writes. “Please support families who need medical care. Link in bio. 💙”

In the adorable photo, Billy smiles as he sits in front of a small cake decorated with three birthday candles.

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The talk show host — who also shares daughterJane, 7, with McNearney and has two older children, Kevin and Katie, from a previous relationship — first opened up about his son’s situation in May 2017, with a tearful monologue on his show. And in April 2018, Kimmelshared details with Oprah Winfreyabout the feelings of detachment he and his wife felt, out of fear.

In October 2020, Kimmel sharednever-before-seen glimpsesof his youngest child’s health battle in order to encourage fans to “vote with your heart.”

During an episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live!, he introduced a video segment that tracked the hospital visits and surgeries he and McNearney attended for their then-newborn son, Billy.

Through the video, McNearney presents photos and clips of Billy just after birth, his stint in the NICU, and during his many hospital visits. The video points out Billy’s three heart surgeries and says he has had over 60 doctor appointments in his three years of life.

source: people.com