Jimmy Kimmel Reveals His New Baby Son Needed Heart Surgery

This story is going to be a real emotional roller coaster for any of the following: people who cry at sad stories, people who cry at happy stories, people who cry seeing pictures of smiling babies, people who cry when they see Jimmy Kimmel cry.

Jimmy Kimmel Live didn’t air new episodes last week, and last night he explained why he was MIA. His wife Molly McNearny gave birth to their second child (and his fourth), a little boy named William “Billy” Kimmel, on April 21st. Unfortunately Billy’s birth turned into an episode of Untold Stories of the ER when he was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, or TOF. Jimmy explained that Billy wasn’t getting enough oxygen into his blood, and he needed heart surgery. Billy is doing well; he’ll need another couple of surgeries as he gets older, but as of right now he’s healthy.

Jimmy thanked all the doctors and nurses at the hospital who took care of Billy, as well as everyone who prayed and sent cards. And because it’s Jimmy Kimmel we’re talking about, he made a joke that “even that son of a bitch Matt Damon sent flowers.” He then made last night’s show all about TOF by bringing on Dr. Oz to explain the condition further, and snowboarder Shaun White, who also has TOF.

Jimmy also got political while talking about his son’s emergency experience.

“We were brought up to believe that we live in the greatest country in the world, but until a few years ago, millions and millions of us had no access to health insurance at all. Before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you’d never be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition. You were born with a pre-existing condition. And if your parents didn’t have medical insurance, you might not live long enough to even get denied because of a pre-existing 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?

I saw a lot of families there, and no parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life. It just shouldn’t happen. Not here.”

That whole pre-existing condition thing never made sense to me. Then again, I’m from Canada. I’ve never had to worry about insurance ad HMOs and stuff. When I get too close to a saw blade, it doesn’t end with me wondering whether I really need both arms. Maybe Canada could help America out on this one. We’ll give America some healthcare coupons and a secret tunnel to get to one of our many fine free hospitals, and in return, America has to promise to keep Justin Bieber. Come on, we’re nice, but we’re not that nice.

Pic: Twitter