Colin Farrell talked about his son’s Angelman syndrome: details
9 august 2024 в 01:28
Colin Farrell revealed that his 20-year-old son James lives with a disorder known as Angelman syndrome. During an interview with PEOPLE in a recent interview for the movie «Saving Mr. Banks», - the 48-year-old actor revealed the reason why he decided to share with the world about his son, whom he shares with his former partner.
«This is the first time I’m talking about this, and obviously the only reason I’m talking about it is because I can’t ask James if he wants to do it», - Colin explained in the interview published on August 7. «I mean, I can. I talk to James as if he’s 20 years old, with perfect English language skills and cognitive ability for his age. But I can’t distinguish a specific response from him, whether he wants to be comfortable with it or not, so I have to make a decision based on James’s spirit and what kind of young man he is and the kindness he has in his heart».
According to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, this condition «shares symptoms and characteristics» with autism and cerebral palsy. It is a «rare neurogenetic disorder that occurs in one in 15,000 newborns or 500,000 people worldwide» and is caused by «loss of function of the UBE3A gene on the 15th chromosome, inherited from the mother».
Symptoms of Angelman syndrome include seizures, sleep problems, developmental delays in adolescence, lack of speech, and/or a generally happy demeanor.
According to the foundation’s website, scientists believe that treatment is possible. The average lifespan for each patient living with AS is the same as for other people, as the disorder itself does not cause death.
Colin shares James with his former partner Kim Bordenave and his younger son Henry with actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus.
During his interview with PEOPLE, the actor explained how he copes with the role of being James’s father.
«As soon as your child reaches 21, they kind of stand on their own», - Colin pointed out. «All the safety nets that are in place, the special education classes, all that disappears, so you’re left with a young adult who has to be an integrated part of our modern society and often gets left behind»
«This is the first time I’m talking about this, and obviously the only reason I’m talking about it is because I can’t ask James if he wants to do it», - Colin explained in the interview published on August 7. «I mean, I can. I talk to James as if he’s 20 years old, with perfect English language skills and cognitive ability for his age. But I can’t distinguish a specific response from him, whether he wants to be comfortable with it or not, so I have to make a decision based on James’s spirit and what kind of young man he is and the kindness he has in his heart».
According to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, this condition «shares symptoms and characteristics» with autism and cerebral palsy. It is a «rare neurogenetic disorder that occurs in one in 15,000 newborns or 500,000 people worldwide» and is caused by «loss of function of the UBE3A gene on the 15th chromosome, inherited from the mother».
Symptoms of Angelman syndrome include seizures, sleep problems, developmental delays in adolescence, lack of speech, and/or a generally happy demeanor.
According to the foundation’s website, scientists believe that treatment is possible. The average lifespan for each patient living with AS is the same as for other people, as the disorder itself does not cause death.
Colin shares James with his former partner Kim Bordenave and his younger son Henry with actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus.
During his interview with PEOPLE, the actor explained how he copes with the role of being James’s father.
«As soon as your child reaches 21, they kind of stand on their own», - Colin pointed out. «All the safety nets that are in place, the special education classes, all that disappears, so you’re left with a young adult who has to be an integrated part of our modern society and often gets left behind»
© Artemenko Olga
