Emotions were high as Jimmy Kimmel returned to his chat show alongside his seven-month-old son Billy – just days after his baby boy underwent heart surgery.
Billy was born with a congenital heart defect, and had to undergo open-heart surgery when he was just three days old earlier this year.
Last week, Jimmy took some time off his show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ as Billy went under the knife again – and thankfully, his surgery was a success, and the tot appeared alongside his father on Jimmy’s first day back on set.
“I was out last week – because this guy had heart surgery. But look he’s fine everybody. He may have pooped but he’s fine,” he said.
“Daddy cries on TV but Billy doesn’t – it’s unbelievable. Billy’s doing great. He has one more surgery. He had an operation a week ago, they say he’s probably on track to win at least a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2036.”
Jimmy also thanked Chris Pratt, Tracee Ellis Ross, Neil Patrick Harris and Melissa McCarthy, who stepped in to guest host the show last week while he was absent.
Jimmy also took the time to thank the doctors and nurses who looked after Billy in hospital, and told informed viewers about an important children’s health insurance programme.
“We want to thank the very bright and talented doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital who treated Billy and many kids with so much care and compassion – children from every income level whose health is especially threatened right now because of something you probably never heard of. It’s called CHIP [Children’s Health Insurance Program].
“Parents of children with cancer, diabetes and heart problems are about to get letters saying their coverage could be cut off next month. Merry Christmas, right?
“This is literally a life and death programme for American kids. It’s always had bipartisan support, but this year, they let the money for it expire while they work on getting tax cuts for their millionaire and billionaire donors.”
