Actor Colin Farrell is opening up about a deeply personal journey \u2014 his son James\u2019 life with Angelman syndrome, a rare neurological disorder often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy. Now 21, James is transitioning into long-term care, a decision rooted in love and foresight.<\/p>\n
Actor Colin Farrell is shedding light on a deeply personal chapter of his life, his son James\u2019 experience living with Angelman syndrome and the family\u2019s decision to transition him into long-term care.<\/p>\n
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes significant developmental delays, limited speech, problems with movement and balance, and often intellectual disability. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disorder is often misdiagnosed in early childhood due to similarities with other neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy.<\/p>\n
A Decision Rooted in Love and Long-Term Planning<\/strong><\/p>\n In an interview with Candis magazine for its May issue, the 48-year-old actor shared that he and James\u2019 mother, Kim Bordenave, have decided to place their 21-year-old son in permanent care \u2014 a step driven by both foresight and concern for his long-term well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tricky \u2014 some parents will say, \u2018I want to take care of my child myself.\u2019 And I respect that,\u201d Farrell said.<\/p>\n \t\tAdvertisement \u00b7 Scroll to continue<\/p>\n \u201cBut my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James\u2019 mother, Kim, has a car crash and she\u2019s taken too \u2014 and then James is on his own? Then he\u2019s a ward of the state and he goes where? We\u2019d have no say in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Farrell added that he and Bordenave, a former model, are carefully looking for a facility that offers James the kind of life and connection they hope for him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we\u2019re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.\u201d<\/p>\n What is Angelman Syndrome?<\/p>\n Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a change in a specific gene. It leads to developmental delays, difficulties with speech and balance, intellectual disability, and sometimes seizures.<\/p>\n Individuals with Angelman syndrome often smile and laugh frequently and are typically happy and easily excitable.<\/p>\n Developmental delays usually appear between 6 and 12 months of age and are often the earliest signs of the condition. Seizures typically begin between the ages of 2 and 3.<\/p>\n While people with Angelman syndrome generally have a near-normal life expectancy, there is currently no cure. Treatment focuses on managing developmental, medical, and sleep-related challenges.<\/p>\n Early Signs Angelman Syndrome<\/strong><\/p>\n Farrell has spoken before about James\u2019 early health challenges. In an August 2024 interview with PEOPLE, he recalled how he and Bordenave began to worry when James missed key developmental milestones.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t hitting benchmarks. He couldn\u2019t sit up. He wasn\u2019t crawling,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cI think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. It was a common misdiagnosis because it shared a lot of the same characteristics.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until James was about two and a half years old that a pediatric neurologist recommended testing for Angelman syndrome \u2014 and the diagnosis was confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the first two questions I asked were, \u2018What\u2019s the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?\u2019 And the doctor said, \u2018Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no,\u2019\u201d Farrell recalled.<\/p>\n James\u2019 Strength and the Repetition Behind Every Step Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n James\u2019 life, Farrell said, has been marked by patience and hard work.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has worked so hard all his life \u2014 so hard,\u201d he shared, emphasizing that even basic tasks have required extensive repetition.<\/p>\n Farrell, who also shares a 15-year-old son named Henry with actress Alicja Bachleda-Cur\u00fas, spoke with deep affection about both his children.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to have two fine young men in my charge. I\u2019m not even joking \u2014 every day I just think they\u2019re just magic. Both of them. I just adore them. And I\u2019m just proud of the kind of fellas they are.\u201d<\/p>\n