Billy Porter Says He Was “Dead for 3 Days” During Sepsis Battle

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Billy Porter is reflecting on his terrifying health experience. 

Billy Porter, known for his role in Pose, revealed he was in a coma for several days in September 2025. This happened after doctors discovered a kidney stone blocking his urethra, which led to sepsis – a dangerous condition where the body has a severe reaction to an infection.

Billy described finding a large amount of pus, bile, and infection behind the stone that was removed. He explained on the Outlaws podcast in March that this infection quickly led to urosepsis – a type of sepsis that starts in the urinary tract and spreads to the kidneys. He said the infection ‘bubbled up’ and caused the urosepsis to develop very rapidly.

He was 56 years old when he went to the doctor for a regular check-up, but his condition quickly worsened. He remembers needing to be immediately placed on ECMO, a machine that provides life support.

“I was dead for three days,” he continued. “I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle.” 

Even after waking up from his coma, the Emmy-winning actor continued to face health challenges. Doctors told him he had developed compartment syndrome, a condition where swelling cuts off blood supply to the muscles, as he explained it, “when the muscles close in on themselves and cut off the oxygen.”

He remembers doctors having to make large incisions on both sides of his leg, from his knee all the way up to his hip, and leaving the wounds open for two days. They did this to try and save his leg.

Billy, who had to leave his role as the Emcee in the Broadway show Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club because of an illness, thankfully made a complete recovery, and he’s very grateful for his health.

“I am so grateful to be here,” he said. “It is such a gift.”

Honestly, seeing him get sick and end up in the hospital… it really changed him, you know? It made him realize a lot about what really matters in life. It was scary, but it feels like he came out of it with a whole new perspective. I’ve been following him forever, and I could just tell.

While recovering in the hospital, I kept hearing three things in my mind. First, I remembered someone telling me to ‘work smarter, not harder.’ Then, I heard a call to be obedient and respond when needed. Finally, I felt a strong urge to always continue telling the truth.

For more stars who have gotten candid about their health scares, keep reading. 

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during an elbow strike from wrestler Piper Niven in a match that took place in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, saying they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment, she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she planned to use it again and it needed to be in good condition.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, sharing on Instagram that she had privately struggled with it for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many girls are told that periods are supposed to be painful and that suffering is just a normal part of womanhood. This often leaves people dealing with period discomfort on their own, despite it being a common experience.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) asking why she hadn’t posted recently. Suki replied, jokingly suggesting the reason was a hernia she got six months ago from wearing very tight pants, and that she’d been afraid to mention it.

In April 2025, the former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared that he was recovering from surgery to repair a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain, which led him to the emergency room. He discovered he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

Oh my gosh, I was watching the game, and it was terrifying! Our amazing player from Racing Louisville just went down, like, right at the beginning of the match against Seattle Reign on September 14th. It happened at Lumen Field in Seattle, and I was so worried! It all happened so fast, and I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate for support, and then collapsed shortly after, prompting trainers to come and assess her condition.

Savannah was given immediate medical attention on the field and taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and fully conscious.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a childhood accident – he was hit by a cement truck at age 11 – continue to bother him now.

“It’s been a terrible experience,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been having spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He mentioned that his pain is intermittent, explaining that he has some physical imperfections and things that aren’t quite right with his body.

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain he had to crawl on his hands and knees, and the pain got worse during a road trip with a friend.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes, saying it was “crazy” in a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. To give some context, he explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds. Now, he can’t even do a squat, can’t balance on one leg, and falls over, comparing the feeling to having had a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be helped out of Madison Square Garden.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain he’d actually gotten food poisoning and was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a clay pigeon shooting trip when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, evaluated her injuries, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye, coming within less than an inch of a direct hit.

The former Kim Possible star shared that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll be keeping a close watch on the situation. Thankfully, their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she realized how precious life is. She urged everyone to hug their loved ones often, because things can change unexpectedly.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her figure out what was wrong with her health. After noticing she looked “puffy” during interviews, people online began commenting, and surprisingly, some doctors chimed in, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome due to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This made her realize she’d been receiving steroid injections for her breast reduction and C-section scars. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she called “the greatest news imaginable.” Amy is now relieved to be healthy and thankful the internet brought the issue to her attention.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son fully recovered, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN how grateful they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and no parent should have to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin. She suddenly started having stroke-like symptoms, unable to speak and noticing her face drooping. Although the symptoms eventually passed, she went to the hospital for tests. Doctors discovered she’d had a small blood clot travel to her brain, which they identified as a TIA, or transient ischemic attack. Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The blood clot had moved through this hole and caused the TIA. Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the hole and is now recovering well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that temporarily paralyzed part of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, causing paralysis on one side. He showed fans he couldn’t blink, smile, or move his nostril on the affected side and that eating had become increasingly difficult. Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away.

Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling much better. She described it as a frightening and unexpected situation, but expressed her relief that he was going to be okay.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, he explained that he was suffering from a severe headache when he suddenly lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that resulted in a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, she remembers only darkness, followed by light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden and severe headache while at the gym. She described collapsing and being violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

After being rushed to the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain. She had suffered an aneurysm, a rupture in an artery. Immediate surgery was performed to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia, leaving her unable to speak clearly.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the growth had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery. This procedure failed, leading to a massive bleed and a dire prognosis. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how much she appreciates her family’s support after a health scare. In January 2024, Cori suffered a stroke and immediately reached out to her loved ones, sending a text and a picture to let them know what happened. She told TopMob News that her family quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. In addition to recovering from the stroke, she was also dealing with complications from lupus and kidney problems.

Fortunately, Cori is now recovering well. She says she’s feeling great and has been working to regain some motor skills, but is otherwise doing fine.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she described a time when she was losing her hearing, unable to walk for more than a few minutes without needing to rest for hours, and experiencing constant stomach pain. She faced conflicting diagnoses from various doctors.

Determined to find answers, Shailene, who has kept the specifics of her condition private, combined traditional medical care with holistic and herbal remedies. This search for well-being lasted for ten years.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to deeper issues, including fear of food and struggles with body image, identity, and feeling safe in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of addressing both her physical and mental health, Shailene is now feeling much better and considers herself very healthy. She expressed gratitude for her recovery.

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2026-03-05 04:18