ST.“JIMMY KIMMEL CHOKES UP AS HIS SON TURNS 6 MONTHS AFTER CHEATING DEATH — AND THE WORDS THAT LEFT AMERICA HOLDING ITS BREATH” There was no band cue. No punchline. No laughter waiting to erupt.
“JIMMY KIMMEL CHOKS UP AS HIS SON TURNS 6 MONTHS AFTER OVERCOMING A DEATH — AND HIS STATEMENT LEAVES AMERICA SILENT” No opening laughter, no familiar jokes — Jimmy Kimmel walked onto the stage with teary eyes on his son Billy’s six-month birthday and did something that silenced the entire audience: he paused for a long time, then slowly said, “If it weren’t for these hospitals, my son wouldn’t be here today.” No drama, no embellishment — just a stark truth, as Jimmy used his son’s six-month birthday to honor the children’s hospitals that saved Billy’s life. That moment was no longer a late-night television broadcast, but a tribute from a father, as Jimmy chose to transform his personal joy into a public message, reminding us that behind every miracle lies a healthcare system struggling for children with no other options. And it was that very choice—not to celebrate, but to be grateful—that made this brief speech a moment that compelled viewers to pause… and listen to the very end.
Nearly six months after sharing an emotional plea following his son’s open heart surgery, Kimmel had nothing but happy news to share about his son’s health.
“Young Billy is six months old today,” he wrote on Instagram Saturday. “He is healthy and happy and we are all very grateful for your prayers, good wishes, thoughts and support of @ChildrensLA and children’s hospitals in your area.”
Kimmel’s young son first came into the spotlight barely a week after he was born. The Jimmy Kimmel Live host returned to the show to explain that Billy had to undergo open heart surgery.
During that monologue, which now has more than 11 million views, Kimmel reflected on how difficult it is to be the parent of a baby with a health condition.
“If your baby is going to die and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make. I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right?” he said. “No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life.”
Kimmel said at the time that his son would need another open-heart surgery in three to six months. He’ll also need a procedure to replace the valve, probably in his early teens.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC and this station.
