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Jimmy Kimmel's son Billy underwent his third open-heart surgery last weekend, and his parents are hopeful that this will be his last. The TV host shared a photo of the smiling 7-year-old to Instagram with a long caption describing the results of the surgery and the individuals that made it a success.
"This weekend, our boy Billy had his third (of three, we hope) open heart surgery. We went into this experience with a lot of optimism and nearly as much fear and came out with a new valve inside a happy, healthy kid."
According to USA Today, Kimmel described his son's condition as "a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia" during a teary-eyed Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue in 2017 where he mentioned that the first surgery occurred when the child was just three days old.
"Basically, the pulmonary valve was completely blocked and he has a hole in the wall between the left and right sides of his heart."
After shouting out the medical professionals that assisted with his son's most recent surgery, the loving father-of-four shed light on the hospital itself, praising Children's Hospital Los Angeles for accepting patients and families "regardless of their ability to pay."
"Walking around this hospital, meeting parents at their most vulnerable, children in pain and the miracle workers who do everything in their considerable power to save them is a humbling experience. We hope you never need CHLA, but if you do - know that they help families regardless of their ability to pay..."
Kimmel wrapped up his sentimental post by drawing special attention to strangers that have been praying for his son, the strength of his wife during this difficult time, and Billy for being the "toughest (and funniest) 7-year-old we know."
"Thanks to those loving strangers who took time to pray for and send positive energy to our baby, thanks to our family and friends for rallying around us to an almost-ridiculous extent, thank you to my wife Molly for being stronger than is reasonable for any Mom to be and Billy, you are the toughest (and funniest) 7 year-old we know. There are so many parents and children who aren’t fortunate enough to go home after five days."
As revealed in the caption, the 56-year-old comedian and his wife are currently home with Billy as he heals from what the world hopes is his last open-heart surgery.