Jimmy Kimmel got the greatest holiday gift of all on Monday, as his seven-month-old son underwent successful heart surgery.
The good news was shared on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night by guest host Chris Pratt.
‘Before we go any further, I want to share some great news with you guys, Jimmy’s son, Billy, had a successful heart surgery this morning,’ said Pratt.
He’s doing great. He’s doing great. And Jimmy, Molly, Jane and Billy, we’re thinking of you guys. We’re sending you our love, our prayers, lots of both tonight.’
Pratt then added: ‘While Jimmy’s out with his family this week, he’s got friends to cover for him. Tracee Ellis Ross will be here tomorrow. Neil Patrick Harris will host on Wednesday. And on Thursday, the great Melissa McCarthy will sit behind this desk.’
Good news: Jimmy Kimmel’s son Billy underwent successful heart surgery on Monday
On the mend: The seven-month-old previously had open heart surgery due to a rare condition
The host had previously planned to take off the first week of November so that his son could have the surgery, but had to postpone the operation when his entire family came down with a cold.
Billy was born with heart defects that required open heart surgery immediately after his birth, followed by this most recent surgery.
‘Billy was born with a heart disease, something called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. It’s hard to explain. Basically, the pulmonary valve was completely blocked, and he has a whole in the wall between the left and right sides of his heart,’ announced a tearful Kimmel back in May.
He went on to explain that Billy will ‘have to have another open-heart surgery in three to six months to close those holes, but they wanna wait until he’s bigger, and then he’ll have a third – hopefully non-invasive procedure – sometime maybe in his early teens to replace the valve he has now.’
Replacement: Chris Pratt shared the news on Monday when he stepped in to guest host for Kimmel
The experience prompted Kimmel to use his show as a platform to advocate for every family’s access to equal medical care, including those unable to afford it.
Kimmel had vocally opposed Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, particularly the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.
‘I hope you never have to go there but if you do you’ll see so many kids from so many financial backgrounds being cared for so well with so much compassion,’ Kimmel previously said.
‘If your baby is going to die it should’t matter how much money you make.’
He then added: ‘Before you post a nasty Facebook message saying I’m politicizing my son’s health problems, I want you to know: I am politicizing my son’s health problems because I have to,’ Kimmel said to applause from the live studio audience.