Jimmy Kimmel’s son has a reason to smile big.
As Billy Kimmel celebrated turning 8 on April 21, the Jimmy Kimmel Live host offered an annual update on his and Molly McNearney’s youngest, while celebrating the health professionals who have supported his family amid Billy’s health journey.
“Today is Billy’s 8th birthday,” Jimmy, 57, wrote alongside a picture of Billy smiling for the camera while he eats and ice cream sundae. “He is very healthy and strong thanks to the doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff at @ChildrensLA & @CedarsSinai and to those of you who have sent prayers, well wishes and donations through the years.”
He continued, “If you can, please make a gift of $8 to support children who need medical care, the link is in my bio. THANK YOU!”
Jimmy—who also shares daughter Jane Kimmel, 10, with Molly and Katie Kimmel, 33, and Kevin Kimmel, 31, with ex-wife Gina Maddy—has long been candid about Billy’s health, including just a few weeks after his arrival in 2017 when the talk show host emotionally detailed Billy being rushed into emergency heart surgery minutes after he was born.
Months later, Billy had to undergo a second open-heart surgery. However, Jimmy’s latest update comes a year after the comedian revealed that Billy underwent his third and “hopefully final” open heart surgery to have a valve put in his heart.
“This weekend, our boy Billy had his third (of three, we hope) open heart surgery,” Jimmy shared last May on Instagram. “We went into this experience with a lot of optimism and nearly as much fear and came out with a new valve inside a happy, healthy kid.”
“Walking around this hospital,” he continued, “meeting parents at their most vulnerable, children in pain and the miracle workers who do everything in their considerable power to save them is a humbling experience.”
The late night host recently gave an update on Billy and how the support from fans have added to the family’s healing.
“Billy is about to turn 8,” Jimmy told E! News in February. “He’s doing great. He’s very healthy.”
“It’s very special when people say, ‘Oh, we’re praying for your son,'” he continued. “People throw those words around lightly, but when you hear them about yourself, they’re very meaningful.”
