Billy Porter shared a health update on Monday, after being rushed into hospital with a ‘serious case’ of urosepsis.
The Tony winning actor, 56, opened up about his ‘challenging’ four months that saw him forced to quit his starring role as the Emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret in September amid his battle with the illness.
Urosepsis is a severe, life-threatening form of sepsis caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI) that spreads to the bloodstream, requiring immediate medical help.
Taking to Instagram, a beaming Billy wished fans a Merry Christmas and assured them that he was on the road to making a ‘full recovery’ but was ‘not there yet’.
He said: ‘Some of you may or may not know that I was in the hospital very ill this fall with urosepsis, 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.’
Billy Porter, 56, shared a health update on Monday, after being rushed into hospital with a ‘serious case’ of urosepsis.
He opened up about his ‘challenging’ four months after being forced to quit his starring role as the Emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret (pictured) in September amid his battle with the illness
‘I wanted to thank everybody for your prayers, and your love, and sending me all the vibes. I felt every single one of them. I know that I’m alive today,’
He cheekily captioned the post: ‘She’s ALIVE!!! Proof of life, PTL!!! Thank you all all thought, prayers and healing energy! Merry Christmas one and all!’.
Fans and famous friends were quick to send the actor their best wishes, with Annie Lennox writing: ‘Oh my…. I’m so glad you’ve almost fully recovered Billy!!!’
‘Sounds like you’ve been through ‘quite’ an ordeal…You are a FORCE of nature..with SO much more to give!!!! UNDAUNTED – UNDEFEATED!!! It’ll take more than a little sepsis to take you away from us!!’.
Meanwhile SNL’s Cheri Oteri added: ‘Billy you are a gift to us all and I’m so glad you feeling better’.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection, leading to widespread inflammation and possible organ failure.
According to the CDC, sepsis requires immediate treatment with antibiotics, IV fluids and hospital monitoring.
Early signs of sepsis can include fever, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing or confusion.
Taking to Instagram, a beaming Billy wished fans a Merry Christmas and assured them that he was on the road to making a ‘full recovery’ but ‘not there yet’.
He cheekily captioned the post: ‘She’s ALIVE!!! Proof of life, PTL!!! Thank you all all thought, prayers and healing energy! Merry Christmas one and all!’
Fans and famous friends were quick to send the actor their best wishes
Severe cases may escalate into septic shock, which can be fatal without urgent intervention.
While it can affect anyone, people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions are at higher risk.
In 2021, Porter revealed he has been living with HIV since 2007.
‘I was the generation that was supposed to know better, and it happened anyway. It was 2007, the worst year of my life,’ he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. ‘By February, I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. By March, I signed bankruptcy papers. And by June, I was diagnosed HIV-positive.’
He continued: ‘The shame of that time compounded with the shame that had already [accumulated] in my life silenced me, and I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years. HIV-positive, where I come from, growing up in the Pentecostal church with a very religious family, is God’s punishment.’
After years of hiding his condition, the performer, best known for his role in the hit TV series Pose, explained speaking ‘the truth’ was ‘healing.’
Over his career, Porter has earned an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
