Colin Farrell is one of the most famous actors in the world, but since he has worked hard to keep his personal life private, you likely had no idea that he is the father of a boy with special needs.

Farrell’s oldest son, 14-year-old James Padraig, was just 2 years-old when he was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. Often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy, this severe developmental disability primarily affects the body’s nervous system. The condition is characterized by movement and balance issues, severe speech impairment, seizures, and sleep problems.

Farrell recently opened up about his son’s condition while attending the annual summit and gala for Angelman syndrome research.

“The struggles of a child with special needs can be so brutal that they can tear at the very fabric of your heart, but the love shared and the pure strength and heroism observed is the needle and thread that mends all tears,” Farrell said.

Farrell was not prepared for fatherhood at all when his son was born in 2003, much less for the challenges of raising a special needs child. It didn’t take long for this combined with the pressures of working in Hollywood to cause Farrell to reach a breaking point.

“When I had James, I made a decision not to change,” Farrell said. “I literally said, ‘I’m not changing! I’m gonna be his friend!’ Like a f–king 28-year-old drug-addicted drunk friend is exactly what my 6-week-old son needs.”

Farrell finally made the decision to check into rehab when his son was 3 years-old. These days, Farrell acknowledges that he has no idea what he’s doing, but he no longer lets this bother him.

“Not knowing what the f–k I’m doing as a dad is huge,” he said. ” I don’t know what I’m doing, and that’s a very liberating thing. You just go, ‘Oh look, there’s s–t on the floor.’ There’s actually s–t on the floor — I have a picture of it on my phone. So what do you do? You clean it up, put a diaper on his a–, and that’s that. It’s just about being present for these guys.”

In fact, it is his love for his son James that gets Farrell through the tough times. He remains in awe of what his son achieves every day.

“James is an absolute stud,” he said. “Every day, just breaking down boundaries. He’s an amazing boy.”

“Everything he’s achieved in his life has come through the presence and the kind of will that is hard work. He’s a lot to be inspired by,” Farrell added. “Things like walking and talking and eating and feeding himself, all those things that so many of us naturally take for granted because they come so easily, to James, they come somewhat harder … I remember the days when he couldn’t watch ten minutes of a film because he couldn’t sit still, but now he can.”

He also revealed why it took him 12 years to go public with James’ condition.

“I decided, after consulting with James’ mother, model Kim Bordenave, that I wanted to talk publicly about the pride and joy I had in our son,” he said. “He has enriched my life, but I don’t want to minimize the trials that so many families go through: the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain.”

We applaud Colin Farrell for getting his life together for the sake of his amazing son! SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!