Warning- don’t watch this video if you just did your makeup. Jimmy Kimmel offered a raw glimpse into his son’s harrowing first few hours of life and some heartbreaking perspective on how different our health care system is here in Canada than it is in the US. While our health care isn’t perfect, this story will make you feel very lucky to live here.

 

Last night Jimmy Kimmel ditched his usual opening monologue jokes to share the heart-wrenching story of his newborn son, William (Billy), who was born 10 days ago with congenital heart disease that required open heart surgery. Breaking down several times during the 13 minute segment, the late night host opened up his private life to share the news of his son’s recovery, publicly thanking the doctors, nurses and medical staff who helped save his son’s life, and also to make a passionate plea for national health care coverage in the US. Kimmel also slammed Donald Trump for attempting to cut health funding in America.

 

 

“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. You know, before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there’s 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.

 

If your parents didn’t have medical insurance, you might not even live long enough to get denied because of your 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?”

 

Through tears, he continued, “I saw a lot of families (at the Children’s Hospital), 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.”

 

Watch the full video here:

 

 

 

Jimmy’s wife Molly took to social media:

 


The story even caught the attention of Barack Obama:

 


-Kevin and Sonia

KiSS RADiO MORNiNGS

www.facebook.com/KevinAndSonia

Filed under: health, Jimmy Kimmel, Kevin and Sonia