Most people recognize Dennis Quaid from blockbuster films, but few know the harrowing story of his son, Thomas Boone Quaid. Born November 8, 2007, Thomas survived a medical crisis that almost took his life—and changed hospital safety protocols nationwide. Today, at 17 years old, he lives quietly with his twin sister while his father continues advocacy work inspired by their near-death experience.
Thomas Boone Quaid is the 17-year-old son of actor Dennis Quaid and real estate professional Kimberly Buffington. Born via surrogacy alongside twin sister Zoe Grace, he survived a life-threatening heparin overdose 10 days after birth. His parents’ subsequent patient safety advocacy led to improved hospital protocols across America.
The Birth and Medical Crisis That Changed Everything
Thomas entered the world at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, weighing 6 pounds 12 ounces. His twin sister Zoe weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces. Dennis and Kimberly had turned to gestational surrogacy after multiple miscarriages, making the twins’ arrival especially meaningful.
Ten days later, both infants developed staph infections requiring hospitalization at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. What happened next became every parent’s nightmare.
Hospital staff accidentally administered heparin—a blood thinner—at 10,000 units per milliliter instead of the required 10 units per milliliter for infants. The twins received this dangerous dose twice, eight hours apart. Their blood lost the ability to clot. Thomas bled from his umbilical area with such force that blood hit the wall six feet away. Both babies developed extensive bruising as bleeding occurred beneath their skin.
For 41 hours, medical teams worked to stabilize them. The crisis stemmed from nearly identical packaging on adult and pediatric heparin bottles—both had blue labels and similar shapes. Staff failed to verify the concentration before administration.
The twins recovered fully, but the incident drew significant media coverage and saw their parents embarking on legal action, culminating in a settlement. The family reached an agreement with Cedars-Sinai when the hospital committed to implementing comprehensive safety measures.
How the Crisis Sparked a National Movement
Dennis and Kimberly didn’t just accept the settlement money. They established The Quaid Foundation in 2008 to prevent similar tragedies. Dennis testified before Congress in May 2008, voicing his strong opposition to preemption for pharmaceutical companies, which could limit patients’ ability to sue for medication harm.
The foundation advocated for three critical safety measures: bedside bar coding systems that match medications to patients, electronic record-keeping to reduce handwritten order errors, and computerized physician-order entry systems. As part of the settlement, Cedars-Sinai spent millions on electronic record keeping, bedside bar coding, and computerized physician-order entry systems.
In 2010, the Quaid Foundation merged with the Texas Medical Institute of Technology, and together they produced a documentary titled “Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm”. The film aired on the Discovery Channel and was distributed free to hospitals nationwide, bringing visibility to medical errors that kill approximately 100,000 Americans annually.
Patient safety advocates praised Dennis’s involvement. Diane Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation, stated that the actor brings “a face to the issue” and higher visibility to the problem.
Dennis Quaid: The Father Behind the Advocacy
Dennis William Quaid, born April 9, 1954, in Houston, Texas, built a four-decade Hollywood career starring in films like The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Right Stuff. His 2003 performance in Far from Heaven earned him a Golden Globe nomination. More recently, he portrayed President Ronald Reagan in the 2024 biopic Reagan.
Beyond acting, Dennis holds a pilot’s license and plays in a band called The Sharks. He’s a Houston Astros fan and golf enthusiast. But fatherhood transformed him. After Thomas and Zoe’s medical crisis, he shifted priorities. He began reading medical journals alongside movie scripts, preparing for congressional testimony and foundation work.
Dennis married actress Meg Ryan in 1991. Their son Jack, born in 1992, became an actor known for The Boys and The Hunger Games films. After divorcing Ryan in 2001, Dennis married Kimberly Buffington on July 4, 2004, at his Montana ranch. They divorced in 2018 but maintain joint custody of the twins.
Kimberly Buffington: Protecting Her Children’s Privacy
Kimberly Buffington works in Texas real estate and has consistently prioritized her children’s privacy. Unlike many celebrity parents who share constant updates on social media, she keeps Thomas and Zoe away from public scrutiny. She faced multiple miscarriages before the twins’ birth, making their survival even more precious to her.
Following the divorce, Kimberly has focused on co-parenting effectively with Dennis. Both parents attend school events and maintain regular involvement in their children’s lives. This shared commitment provides stability despite the family’s public profile.
Growing Up as Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace Quaid
Thomas shares an exceptionally close bond with his twin sister Zoe. They survived the same medical crisis and grew up shielded from excessive media attention. While Zoe has expressed interest in acting, Thomas prefers creative pursuits outside the entertainment industry.
He also maintains a relationship with his half-brother Jack, who is 15 years older. Despite the age gap, Jack provides guidance and support as part of their blended family. Jack’s successful acting career in projects like The Boys demonstrates one possible path, but Thomas appears to be charting his own course.
Thomas’s Interests and Education in 2025
At 17, Thomas attends high school in the United States, though the specific school remains private for security reasons. He performs well academically and has developed interests in music and photography. He plays guitar and writes songs, reflecting an artistic sensibility that runs in the family.
Unlike his father and half-brother, Thomas hasn’t pursued acting. He prefers staying behind the camera rather than in front of it. His photography work captures his unique perspective, though he doesn’t share it publicly on social media.
His parents support his freedom to choose his own path without pressure to enter the entertainment industry. Whether he pursues creative arts, business, or another field entirely remains his decision to make as he approaches adulthood.
A Private Life in a Public World
In an era when celebrity children often grow up with millions of social media followers, Thomas stands out for his absence from public platforms. His parents deliberately keep him offline to protect his mental health and allow normal development.
When Thomas does appear publicly—at film premieres with his father or rare family events—he appears composed and confident without seeking attention. He dresses casually, has blonde hair and green eyes, and maintains a healthy, age-appropriate appearance.
Thomas’s journey is punctuated by overcoming the shadows of a near-fatal incident at birth, underlining a narrative of resilience and advocacy by his parents. His upbringing reflects his parents’ determination to provide normalcy despite their fame.
The Legacy of a Medical Tragedy
Thomas will turn 18 on November 8, 2025. He stands at the threshold of adulthood with countless possibilities ahead. Whether he chooses higher education, creative pursuits, or entrepreneurship, he carries a foundation built on resilience, family support, and the knowledge that his survival helped improve patient safety nationwide.
The early medical crisis that nearly claimed his life led to tangible changes in hospital protocols. Improved medication labeling requirements, enhanced staff training, and widespread adoption of bar coding systems all trace back partly to the attention his story brought to medical errors. The Quaid Foundation’s commitment to this cause has helped to make a significant impact on patient care protocols in hospitals across the nation.
Dennis has stated that he thought, “They’re 12 days old, and they’re going to change the world” when watching his twins recover. That prediction proved accurate—though perhaps not in the way anyone expected.
What the Future Holds
Thomas’s financial future appears secure. While he has no personal net worth as a minor, he benefits from his father’s successful acting career and his mother’s real estate business. Any assets under his name likely exist in family trusts or investments.
As he completes high school and considers next steps, observers wonder if he’ll eventually enter the public eye or continue his private lifestyle. His interests in music and photography suggest potential creative careers, but he’s shown no indication of following the acting legacy.
What makes Thomas’s story compelling isn’t just his famous father or the dramatic medical crisis. It’s how his family transformed trauma into meaningful change while protecting his right to a normal childhood. He represents a generation of celebrity children raised with intention—where privacy matters more than publicity, and personal development trumps public image.
The boy who survived against the odds is now a young man preparing to make his own mark on the world, supported by a family that understands both the opportunities and challenges of life in the spotlight.
FAQs
When was Thomas Boone Quaid born?
Thomas was born on November 8, 2007, alongside his twin sister Zoe Grace at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
What happened to Thomas Boone Quaid as a baby?
At 10 days old, Thomas and his twin sister received a heparin overdose 1,000 times stronger than the appropriate infant dose at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. They recovered after 41 hours of intensive care.
Does Dennis Quaid have custody of Thomas Boone Quaid?
Dennis shares 50% physical custody with Kimberly Buffington following their 2018 divorce. Both parents remain actively involved in the twins’ lives.
How old is Thomas Boone Quaid in 2025?
Thomas is 17 years old in 2025 and will turn 18 on November 8, 2025.
Who is Thomas Boone Quaid’s mother?
Kimberly Buffington, a Texas real estate professional who married Dennis Quaid in 2004 and divorced in 2018.
Does Thomas Boone Quaid have siblings?
Yes. He has a twin sister, Zoe Grace Quaid, and an older half-brother, Jack Quaid, from Dennis’s previous marriage to Meg Ryan.