In an exclusive interview with People published on June 10, Billy Ray Cyrus opened up about surviving a near-fatal sepsis diagnosis in 2024, which also caused vocal paralysis and led to hospitalization due to the severity of the condition.
According to Cyrus, his entire body felt "swollen" and his doctors even advised him "to get his affairs in order" because of how serious his condition had become. However, the singer and actor managed to fully recover from what is considered a fatal illness, surprising his doctors. He described his recovery as God’s "miracle."
Indeed, sepsis is the body's extreme response to infection. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. According to the Sepsis Trust, every three seconds someone in the world dies of sepsis.
So, what exactly causes sepsis, who is at risk, and what are the signs and symptoms? Click through and find out more about this life-threatening medical emergency.