Billy Porter has reflected on being left on life support for days during his horrifying experience with sepsis.
During Monday’s episode of the Outlaws with TS Madison podcast, the 56-year-old actor recalled being diagnosed with sepsis in September, leading to his abrupt exit from the Broadway production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that causes the immune system to harm healthy tissues and organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Without urgent care, the condition can spread quickly and lead to organ failure or death.
According to Porter, his sepsis was a result of a kidney stone being trapped in his urethra. “When [my doctors] got in there, there was so much puss, and bile, and infection behind the stone. It bubbled up, and I went uroseptic in minutes,” he said on the podcast, referring to a type of sepsis that begins in the urinary tract. The Pose star said that his condition was so severe that he was put on an ECMO machine, a type of artificial life-support for patients whose lungs and heart don’t function correctly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“I was dead for three days,” the Tony Award winner said. “I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle,” he said. “And when I woke up, I had gone into compartment syndrome, which is when the muscles close in on themselves and cut off the oxygen.”
“I am so grateful to be here. It is such a gift,” he added.
Porter is known for his roles in musical theater and television, including his Emmy-winning role in the hit FX show Pose. He also starred in the beloved Broadway show Kinky Boots, which earned him a Tony Award in 2013.
The harrowing health ordeal forced him to reflect on his life, sparking three realizations.
“The first thing I heard was: Work smarter, not harder. The second thing I heard was: Be obedient and answer the call,” Porter concluded. “And the third thing I heard was: Don’t you ever stop telling the truth again. I unconsciously silenced myself for fear that I wouldn’t be on the A-list anymore.”
Porter previously shared updates on his recovery, telling fans last December that his health was improving.
“It was not easy. It’s been a very, very challenging four months. And I want everybody to know that I am on the road to a full recovery. I’m not there yet but I’m on the road to that,” he said.
“And I wanted to thank everybody for your prayers and your love and sending me all the vibes.”
