Jimmy Kimmel Is ‘So Grateful’ for Medical Staff Who ‘Saved’ 7-Year-Old Son Billy

Jimmy Kimmel‘s 7-year-old son Billy was born with “tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia” and has had to undergo several open-heart surgeries over the years, the last of which was in May. The talk show host and wife Molly McNearney are forever “grateful” to the medical staff who have kept their son alive.

“Jimmy calls Billy his miracle child,” a source exclusively tells Closer. “He is so grateful for the doctors and nurses who saved his son and will always go out of his way to support charities that help kids who are sick or in need of medical assistance.”

On October 5, the couple — who also share 10-year-old daughter Jane — brought their children to the L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade charity event in Westwood, California, where they helped raise money for childhood cancer research.

As for the charity event, Jimmy admits it’s “a lot of fun. “Having these great chefs gathered in one place, they’re doing a special thing — they’re actually making real progress and really helping families and kids who have cancer,” Jimmy tells Closer. “We’ve been in a difficult position ourselves with our son, and there’s nothing more important.”

In May, Jimmy gave fans a happy update via Instagram after Billy’s procedure alongside a photo of the little one lying on the hospital bed, while flashing a precious smile.

“This weekend, our boy Billy had his third (of three, we hope) open heart surgery. 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,” Jimmy captioned the post. “Once again Billy’s doctors, led by the brilliant surgeon Vaughn Starnes, cardiologist Tim Casarez and the excellent, hard-working staff, doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners at CHLA, including, but certainly not limited to Misty, Ann, Sylvia, Dana, Caleigh, Nick, Bekah, Julie, Kenny, Caroline, Lisa, Stephanie, Ellize, Ivy, Pam and Carrie came through for us with immeasurable kindness and expertise.”

The following month, a separate source told Closer how “blessed” the New York native felt that his son successfully underwent his third open heart surgery.

“Billy’s heart defect has been a nightmare for Jimmy,” insider No. 2 exclusively told Closer. “They know that life is precious,” adds the source, “and that all that matters is that Billy’s OK.”

The second source later shared, “Jimmy and Molly feel so blessed to have such wonderful doctors and nurses assisting them. He’s seen firsthand how important quality healthcare is.”

Jimmy has been open, raw and emotional about Billy’s health battle ever since he announced his April 2017 birth.

During his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live the following month, he announced that Molly, 46, gave birth to Billy after “six pushes.” While in the recovery room and introducing family to Billy, a nurse noticed he had a heart murmur and that his skin was turning purple. After taking tests in another room, they found out that the newborn had pulmonary atresia.

Jimmy, who was holding back tears, shared a photo of Billy earlier that week, as he was connected to an overwhelming amount of test tubes. The following picture was of the little one the day prior, and he was in happy spirits as he flashed a gummy smile at the camera.