James was initially misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler
Colin Farrell has opened up about the heart-wrenching decision to place his 21-year-old son, James, in a care home. Sharing the experience with Candis Magazine, he revealed: “Some parents will say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself’, and I respect that.”
The Hollywood actor reflected on his fears: “But my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too. And then James is on his own?” He expressed the urgency to ensure James’s future care while he still has the power to influence it.
James was originally diagnosed with Angelman syndrome just before turning three, after initially being wrongly diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Colin pointed out this is a common mistake due to overlapping symptoms of both conditions. The Banshees of Inisherin star detailed symptoms such as James’s delayed milestones; he was unable to sit or crawl by his first birthday.
A distinguishing characteristic of Angelman syndrome, however, is sudden outbursts of laughter – something James exhibited. Other key signs of Angelman syndrome include:
- Frequent smiling
- A tendency to get excited easily
- Being restless or having a short attention span
- Difficulty sleeping and requiring less sleep than usual
- A fascination with water
- Walking with arms raised
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system, leading to severe physical and learning disabilities. According to the NHS, individuals with this condition typically have a normal lifespan but will need support throughout their lives.
The condition usually “occurs by chance” during conception when a specific gene, UBE3A, is either absent or dysfunctional. Most children start showing symptoms before their first birthday, as was the case with James.
Symptoms can include delayed milestones, difficulty speaking (though many can communicate through gestures or other methods), and significant impact on movement, such as problems with walking, balance, coordination, shaky or jerky arm movements, and rigid legs.
Most children receive a diagnosis before they turn six. While there is no cure, treatments are available to manage symptoms, including anti-epileptic medication for seizure control, physiotherapy, and communication therapy. Other symptoms, like hyperactivity and sleep disturbances, tend to improve as the individual ages.
According to AngelmanUK only about one in every 20,000 births is affected by the condition. It was named after Dr Harry Angelman, the British doctor who identified it in 1965. He titled his medical paper Puppet Children due to the joyful demeanour and rigid movements of the children he observed with the condition.
