Johnny Smacks issues update after newborn son’s gastroschisis diagnosis

Johnny ‘Smacks’ McMahon confirmed his son was born with a rare disorder

Earlier this week, the new dad confirmed his baby boy, J.J., was born a few weeks ago, but was sadly diagnosed with a rare disorder called gastroschisis.

Gastroschisis is a rare birth defect in which the baby's intestines extend outside of the abdomen through a hole next to the baby's belly button.

The parents found out about their son's gastroschisis during their 14-week scan.

Johnny and his wife Annie revealed the diagnosis in a new episode of the 2 Johnnies podcast, but stressed that their little boy is a fighter.

The dad has confirmed that their little boy will likely have to stay in hospital over Christmas and New Year, but they are hopeful he'll be home with them in the springtime.

"Hopefully we’ll get him home in the spring or whenever we get him home, but there’s a car seat in the car waiting to be filled, and someday we’ll fill it with him," the dad said.

Johnny has praised the staff at Crumlin's Children's Hospital for performing life-saving operations on their little boy and for caring for him every step of the way. J.J needed a couple of operations straight away after his birth, but Johnny said he's already improving.

"I’d swap with him and go in and do twenty operations on me if they would just let him be alright, but he fought through it, and he is strong now."

"I cannot thank the hospital enough," he added.

Johnny has praised Annie for being so strong throughout this difficult chapter, and said his wife has been strong, calm and heroic through it all.