“The Sopranos” star Jamie-Lynn Sigler, 43, revealed she feared for her son’s life while he battled a rare, life-threatening autoimmune condition.
Sigler said her 11-year old son Beau was spent 33 days in the hospital with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and admitted she was “terrified” he would die. The famous actress detailed the experience in an interview with People published Thursday, saying her son became unable to eat, walk and talk during his hospitalization.
“He got worse every day,” Sigler said. She told the publication he lost 25 pounds.
“There was nothing recognizable about my son,” she said.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: Jamie-Lynn Sigler attends the The Sopranos 25th Anniversary Reunion: WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at Beacon Theatre on June 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Sigler said the medical emergency began when Beau endured a week of high fevers and headaches that soon led to his inability to urinate.
“He was screaming in pain,” she told People.
Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, admitted the boy and diagnosed him with the dangerous autoimmune disease. It can develop following a viral or bacterial infection and can lead to inflammation of the central nervous system. Spinal and brain inflammation kept his body from regulating its blood and medical personnel placed him on a 24-hour epinephrine IV.
“Truly, we thought he was going to die,” she said.
“Those were the hardest days I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Sigler told People. “It was probably the most helpless I’ve ever been.”
Sigler stayed beside Beau for over a month while her husband looked after their younger son, Jack. The famous actress said she drew upon her personal battle with multiple sclerosis to assist her son through his medical crisis.
Beau ultimately walked out of the hospital but he is still working to regain his strength.
“The care that we received, the attention that every family receives, was unparalleled,” Sigler said.
The star admitted “there’s still a road of recovery.”
“There’s some residual things physically we deal with, and because of what he sees me deal with, he knows I understand. I know it’s hard to not be able to do something that you used to be able to do,” Sigler told People.
She said Beau has no memories of his time in the hospital, but “mentally he went through something profound and he’s trying to figure out how to integrate that back into life and still be the 11-year-old little boy he was.”
Sigler said her son is working toward reintegrating with his peers after the traumatic experience.
“When you have a near-death experience, there’s an intense amount of gratitude you have for life, and he constantly wants to express it, which is beautiful. He wants to go up and tell everyone he loves them and how amazing they are. But for another 11-year-old, that’s not how you do things,” she said.
“My son is different than the 10-year-old Beau that entered the hospital in July,” she told People. (RELATED: Dwyane Wade Reveals He Had 40% Of His Kidney Removed Amid Health Crisis)
The famous actress said Beau has developed a passion for songwriting. “It’s been how he channels his emotions,” she explained.
