One of Liam Neeson’s sons with his late wife Natasha Richardson has revealed he’s undergone surgery for a rare congenital heart defect.
The Taken star, 73, was married to The Parent Trap actress from 1994 until her death aged 45 in 2009 after she suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in Quebec.
During their marriage the couple welcomed two sons together – Micheál, who was born in 1995, and Daniel, who was born the following year.
This week their youngest shared a lengthy post on social media in which he explained details of his recent medical operation.
Beginning the post, he wrote: ‘I was born with BAV (Bicuspid Aortic Valve) a condition where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of the normal three. About 2% of the human population has it, and most people don’t even know. It can stay dormant for years before it begins causing valve failure or enlargement of the aorta.
‘For me, I had biannual cardiology checkups for most of my life, monitoring my heart. Eventually, I started to experience severe left ventricle dilation and aortic enlargement. I knew it was heading toward medical intervention. Some people with BAV are operated on later in life, but I drew the early-bird straw.
‘Nothing is more empowering than understanding your health, staying on top of your game, and planning ahead. Health is about being proactive, not reactive.’
Daniel went on to write that there was ‘something surreal about realising that one of your biggest challenges was quietly developing inside you your entire life’. ‘No dramatic warning. Just science, genetics, and timing.’
Although he said he’d ‘always prided myself on pushing through battles and working to control my environment’, he was forced to ‘surrender’ and put his trust in others – ‘world-class surgeons and unbelievable nurses’.
‘Trusting that even if I couldn’t control the outcome, I could control my mindset and my deeper consciousness,’ he continued.
‘Overcoming this wasn’t about being fearless. It was about leaning into the healing energy and being as present as possible. I looked at this operation as a ceremony, not a procedure.’
Daniel went on to thank his doctor and the medical team at Weill Cornell/ NewYork-Presbyterian hospital for ‘taking unbelievable care of me’. He also expressed his gratitude to the ICU nurses – who he wrote ‘deserve all the praise in the world’.
He then also singled out his fiancée Natalie Ackerman and his family for ‘being there every day’.
‘The recovery trail is beautiful, patient, and rewarding.’
He then urged others to ‘always advocate for yourself and listen to your body’. ‘Everyone should have their hearts checked by a cardiologist, even if they don’t have any known defects.’
Concluding the post, Daniel told others to ‘surrender to the present and don’t live in fear’ as the universe ‘has your back’.
After eight years of dating, Daniel and Natalie got engaged in September last year.
The couple met while studying at Tulane University in New Orleans. Daniel is an entrepreneur, launching an eco-friendly, charitable clothing line called Pine Outfitters while in college, going on to co-founded De Nada Tequila, where he currently works. His partner is a brand communications manager.
Meanwhile Daniel’s older brother Micheál is an actor whose appeared alongside his father in movies including Cold Pursuit and Made in Italy.
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