Colin Farrell explained why he decided to enroll his son in a boarding school (12 photos)

Colin Farrell has shared a deeply personal and difficult decision about the future of his 21-year-old son James, who suffers from Angelman syndrome. In an interview with Candis magazine, the 48-year-old actor said that he and his ex-wife Kim Bordenave plan to send the young man to a specialized boarding school. The parents are concerned about what will happen to James after they are gone.





“Some parents say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself.’ And I respect that,” Farrell explains. — But I'm terrified... What if tomorrow I have a heart attack, and God forbid James' mother Kim gets into a car accident and dies too, and then James is left alone?"

According to the actor, he won't wait for the worst to happen. He wants to choose where his son will live and what kind of care he will receive.

"Then he will become a ward of the state and where will he go? We won't have a say," the Irish actor continued.

Colin Farrell to send his ill son to a care home



Farrell and Bordenave, who dated from 2001 to 2003, are now actively looking for a facility that can provide James with the care he needs.

"We want him to find a place where he can live a full and happy life, where he feels like he's part of something bigger," his father added.





At age two and a half, James was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome.

"He couldn't sit up. He couldn't crawl. I think he was a year and a half old when we took him in for testing and they diagnosed him with cerebral palsy," Farrell recalls.



Children with developmental delays are generally considered to have cerebral palsy. Both conditions have similar symptoms but differ in their causes.

Cerebral palsy is a condition characterized by a non-progressive movement disorder that occurs as a result of a brain injury. The condition results in a variety of movement problems, including balance problems, difficulty with coordination, and muscle weakness.



Angelman syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation of a specific gene, UBE3A, and is accompanied by additional behavioral symptoms such as seizures, frequent laughter, and speech problems.

However, James then developed a characteristic sign of Angelman syndrome - frequent and spontaneous laughter.



"The doctor noticed that James was laughing a lot and making these movements - waving his arms." Tests revealed problems with the UBE3A gene and confirmed Angelman syndrome.

At 21, the boy is non-verbal and requires 24/7 care. So, regular specialist care is required to ensure his well-being.

"Luckily, James has been seizure-free for 10 or 11 years."

James has Angelman syndrome



Despite the challenges, Farrell proudly reported that his son has made significant progress.

"When he first started feeding himself, his face looked like a Jackson Pollock painting. And now he's doing great. I'm so proud of my son, he's magical."





One of those magical moments was remembering the boy taking his first steps just before his fourth birthday.

"I'll never forget the look of determination on his face as he walked toward me. He took six steps and I burst into tears," Colin told People magazine.

Pharrell's son is non-verbal and needs 24/7 care



Pharrell shares James' triumphs and struggles to encourage parents who are facing similar challenges. He wants to show that you can be strong no matter what.

"It's important for a parent of a child with special needs to feel like they're not alone," he said.