Colin Farrell and the fight for his son, who suffers from Angelman syndrome

For years Colin Farrell was bad boy hollywood. While her face has appeared in blockbuster movies, her name has been linked to drugs and excess.

The magazine People came to calculate that in two weeks he used to consume “twenty ecstasy pills, four grams of cocaine, three bottles of whiskey, twelve of wine and 30 liters of beer and 280 cigarettes“. And some of his romances were also very popular, like the ones he experienced with Britney Spears or Angelina Jolie. But everything changed with the arrival of their first child, James, who is about to turn 18.

Due to his relationship with model Kim Bordenave, a child was born in September 2003 who would change the lives of his parents, especially that of his father, who he reoriented his life and became a grandfather.

A few months after his birth, little James began to show troubles and a different course. No gateaba nor balbuceaba, had trouble sleeping and had great difficulty maintaining balance. However, his laughter was constant. At seven months old, they discovered he was affected by the Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder.

Goodbye excess

From now on decided to leave the bad life, he rehabilitated And he made up his mind: he wanted to be a very present father to raise James. Now this little boy is about to turn 18 and that’s why the Irish actor have applied to a court for legal guardianship, in order to continue to act as a father and to make the appropriate decisions when your child is of age.

According to the court request, Farrell and the boy’s mother, Kim Bordenave, have asked to remain as James’ legal guardians. The goal is that after 18 years, parents can continue to manage personal needs, including medical decisions, of “someone who cannot take care of themselves for medical reasons such as mental disability”.

The petition, dated May 10, explains that James has Angelman syndrome, described in the document as “a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays and disabilities and affects the nervous system.”

What does Angelman syndrome look like

The young “does not speak and has motor problems fine, which makes him unable to take care of his physical health and well-being adequately and requires that he need help preparing his food, eating, bathing and dressing ”, reads one in the document presented by the lawyers of the actor. Colin and Kim seek the power to decide where James lives, access confidential records, refuse or grant marital consent, sign contracts, give medical consent and make decisions about their education.

Y aunque la petición señala que James carece de la capacidad para expresar su preferencia sobre a quién le gustaría como sus tutores, sus padres “están seguros” de que si “pudiera expresar su opinión sobre a quién le gustaría” para el papel, los elegiría their.

The court hearing is scheduled for September 27. The teenager’s doctor, Liliana Sloninsky, said that it will be “difficult” for James to attend, because characteristics of his condition include “developmental delay, intellectual disability, severe disability, and problems with movement and balance.” The professional explained that “James is not verbal, he gets very anxious and easily loses his concentration”.

The protagonist of Daredevil He spoke about his son on several occasions. Recently, at an Angelman Syndrome Therapy Foundation gala, he shared what it means for him to see James take his first steps two weeks before his 4th birthday.

“I will never forget it. A child’s first steps are always a very deep experience. Parents are upset if they miss it … Tears can flow, and this is such a huge time in development. in the life of a child and in the relationship between the child and his parents. “Colin continued,” But when they tell you that your son might not walk and your son could then walk, two weeks before his 4th anniversary, absence magnified presence, when presence arrived. And in the same way, the lack of certain skills for our children … amplifies the need for all of us to come together. “

Far from feeling overwhelmed by the rare syndrome of his firstborn – the actor is also the father of Henry Tadeusz, 11, a result of his relationship with Alicja Bachleda-, Farrell made it clear that this paternity was not a condemnation but a gift. “What if I feel miserable?” The birth of James, his existence, has been a blessing to me, not a burden. Thanks to him, I have matured, I have grown, I have become a deeper person, I better understand the meaning of existence. And the? He is a child who shows incredible courage, a pure and uncontaminated life force. I adore my son and the fact that he is special makes me adore him even more. “In recent years, he hasn’t lost an opportunity to show how proud he is of his firstborn. ‘James is dynamite, he’s magical. He’s a little more unique than most,’ he adds. that “seeing him face obstacles is an inspiration”.

Source: Elena Castells / La Vanguardia

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