Jenny McCarthy Opens Up About Son’s Near-Fatal Seizure and Autism Diagnosis
Actress and model Jenny McCarthy, known for her candidness about personal struggles, recently shared one of the most harrowing experiences of her life—watching her young son Evan endure a life-threatening seizure before his autism diagnosis.
During an emotional conversation on Maria Menounos’ *Heal Squad* podcast, the 52-year-old recounted the terrifying moment when her then 2½-year-old son suffered a seizure so severe it caused cardiac arrest.
“Waiting for the paramedics when he went into cardiac arrest—there’s nothing worse,” McCarthy recalled. “He’s turning blue, and I’m on the phone with 911, screaming at them to hurry up, and they can’t come fast enough.”
The traumatic experience left her pleading with a higher power as first responders fought to revive Evan—not once, but twice. “I had so many conversations with God in that moment, begging, ‘Bring back my boy,'” she shared.
The ordeal was only the beginning of her challenges. Shortly after, McCarthy received Evan’s autism diagnosis—a revelation that compounded her emotional turmoil.
“I hit such a low point—the seizures, then the autism diagnosis,” she said. “I remember crying so hard in the shower, one of those movie-like moments where the pain is just overwhelming. I felt so helpless.”
McCarthy welcomed Evan Joseph Asher in May 2002 with her then-husband, John Asher. Though the couple divorced in 2005, she later found love with Donnie Wahlberg, who has embraced Evan as his own. Wahlberg, who has two sons from a previous relationship, has been a supportive stepfather in Evan’s life.
Since publicly sharing Evan’s autism diagnosis in 2007, McCarthy has been a vocal advocate for autism awareness. But in this raw and unfiltered conversation, she peeled back the layers of her strength, revealing the fear, heartbreak, and resilience that have defined her journey as a mother.
