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Billy Porter has shared an emotional health update after a ‘very, very challenging four months’ hospitalised with sepsis.
The Hollywood star, 56, took to Instagram with a tear-filled video sharing his holiday well-wishes before revealing his update after being treated for the life-threatening condition.
As he told his fans: ‘Some of you may or may not know that I was in the hospital, very ill this fall with urosepsis [a form of sepsis stemming from an untreated UTI].
‘It was not easy, it’s been a very, very challenging four months.’
He continued, getting choked up: ‘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. And I wanted to thank everybody for your prayers, your love and sending me all the vibes.
‘I felt every single one of them and know that I’m alive today because of my family.’
His caption read: ‘She’s ALIVE!!! Proof of life, PTL!!! Thank you all all thought, prayers and healing energy! Merry Christmas one and all!’
The singer and actor, who most recently starred in the festive movie Christmas Karma, was sent further love and support by friends and fans in the comments.
‘So happy to see your beautiful face and that you are on your way back up and up!’ nycgaydad shared.
‘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!!!!’ Annie Lennox declared.
‘Billy you are a gift to us all and I’m so glad you feeling better,’ cheri_oteri reflected.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
You cannot catch sepsis from another person.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
Symptoms in adults and children:
- High/Low temperature
- Uncontrolled shivering
- Confusion
- Passing little urine/diarrhoea
- Blotchy or cold arms and legs
Other symptoms in children may include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe breathlessness
- Loss of consciousness
- Very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Breathing very fast
- Fit or convulsion
The Emmy, Tony and Grammy-winning star announced he had a ‘serious case of sepsis’ in September, which caused him to withdraw from his role as Emcee in the Broadway production of Cabaret.
During his stay in the hospital, he received a get-well-soon card from Prince William himself, whom he had met while hosting the Earthshot Prize in South Africa.
‘He heard that I was ill and he sent me a get-well card.‘That’s the kind of human being he is,’ he told Hello Magazine.
The Pose actor added: ‘He’s very grounded, very kind, very present to everybody around him at all times. You know, it’s a really hard job and it’s just effortless to him.
‘I [felt] so humbled and blessed to host his Earthshot Prize in Cape Town. His kindness and his presence have no bounds.’
As for Christmas Karma, the Hunger Games actor plays The Ghost of Christmas Present in this A Christmas Carol modern-day retelling.
Christmas Karma is in cinemas now.
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