David Duchovny Recounts Harrowing Experience of Reattaching to Daughter After Near-Death RSV Scare

David Duchovny has opened up about the terrifying ordeal he endured when his infant daughter nearly succumbed to RSV. He shares his experience of struggling to reconnect with her afterward due to the trauma he faced during that time.

In a recent appearance on SiriusXM's "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa," David Duchovny delved into a deeply personal and challenging chapter in his life. The "X-Files" star emotionally recounted the harrowing experience of nearly losing his daughter, West, to RSV when she was just 9 months old.

Duchovny vividly recalled the moment he received the devastating news. "My daughter, West, got RSV, which kind of was in the news again a couple years ago. I'd never heard of it until my daughter got it, and it's very dangerous for infants, and she went into the hospital and she had, nobody knew what it was. They thought maybe she had meningitis. She was non-responsive."

RSV, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory infection that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can be extremely dangerous for infants, as it can lead to severe breathing difficulties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The actor, who shares West and son, Kyd, 21, with ex Téa Leoni, described the anguish and helplessness he felt as his infant daughter's condition worsened. "They gave her a spinal tap. It was really horrifying and this was her first cold, if you can remember as a parent, that first cold," he said. "But this was truly a nightmare because we really thought we could lose her, and I was working on 'The X-Files' at the time and Téa was staying in the hospital with West and I would go and visit after work for a few hours, and then I'd go home, and I remember being in the shower and just thinking, I started to try to acclimate myself to a world without her."

Duchovny's thoughts turned dark as he grappled with the possibility of losing his beloved daughter. "This is a real possibility," he said. "I've got to think about it and I realized I would never get over it. Not that I couldn't live, but just that life would, as it says in the book, it would have no meaning or joy."

Fortunately, West made a miraculous recovery, but the trauma of near-death experience left an enduring impact on her father. "I realized, as a father, I had troubles shortly after that," he said. "I don't know if the word is reattaching, but accepting her back in. I was so terrified."

Duchovny candidly discussed the challenges he faced in reconnecting with his daughter after her ordeal. "I had troubles shortly after that," he said. "I don't know if the word is reattaching, but accepting her back in. I was so terrified."

The actor emphasized the need for open and honest conversations about mental health and the challenges of fatherhood. "I think it's important for fathers to talk about this stuff," he said. "It's not just women who go through postpartum depression. Men can go through it too."

Duchovny's poignant revelation underscores the profound and often unspoken struggles that fathers face in the aftermath of a traumatic experience involving their children. His willingness to share his story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking support and addressing mental health concerns.