Billy Porter is opening up about a terrifying health crisis that nearly cost him his life, revealing that he was unconscious for days after a severe infection turned into sepsis.
The Pose star shared details of the ordeal during a March 2 appearance on the Outlaws podcast, explaining how what started as a medical issue involving a kidney stone quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency.
Porter said the stone became lodged in his urethra, leading to a serious infection that rapidly spread throughout his body.
“When they got in there, there was so much pus and bile and infection behind the stone,” Porter recalled.
The infection soon triggered urosepsis, a dangerous condition that begins in the urinary tract and can spread to other organs if not treated immediately.
“It bubbled up and I went uroseptic in minutes,” Porter explained.
The 56-year-old actor said he had initially gone to the doctor for what seemed like a routine check-up, but his condition deteriorated so quickly that doctors had to place him on ECMO, a form of advanced life support used when the heart and lungs can no longer function properly on their own.
Reflecting on the experience, Porter described just how close he came to death.
“I was dead for three days,” he said. “I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle.”
Even after regaining consciousness, the medical complications were not over. Doctors discovered he had developed compartment syndrome in his leg, a dangerous condition where swelling inside the muscles cuts off oxygen supply to the tissue.
To save his leg, surgeons were forced to perform emergency procedures while he was still in a coma.
“They had to cut me open on either side of my leg from my knee to my hip and leave it open for two days,” Porter said.
The severe health scare forced Porter to step away from his role as the Emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, a performance he had been preparing for at the time.
Despite the frightening ordeal, Porter says he ultimately made a full recovery and now views the experience as a profound turning point in his life.
“I am so grateful to be here,” he said. “It is such a gift.”
During his recovery, Porter said he spent time reflecting on what the experience meant and what he wanted to change moving forward.
“As I sat in my hospital bed reflecting, there were a couple of things I heard,” he explained. “The first thing I heard was: work smarter, not harder. The second thing I heard was: be obedient and answer the call. And the third thing I heard was: don’t you ever stop telling the truth again.”
For Porter, surviving the ordeal has given him a renewed perspective on life, work, and the importance of listening to his own voice.
