Actor and comedian Jamie Foxx has opened up about a life-threatening health scare that nearly took his life in April 2023. In his new Netflix stand-up special, What Had Happened Was…, the 56-year-old revealed that he suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke, leaving him in critical condition for weeks.
Foxx recounted his harrowing experience at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, where doctors struggled to stabilize his vitals during the first two weeks of his hospitalization. “They said at one point, the first 15 days, they thought they were going to lose me because my vitals were out of control,” he shared. “There was a 13- or 14-day period where they tried every medication, but nothing worked. They said, ‘We’ve gotta keep him calm because his vitals are so high, we’re going to lose him.'”
During this critical period, Foxx credited his youngest daughter, Anelise, now 16, for helping him through. Despite his reluctance for her to see him in such a vulnerable state, Anelise managed to sneak into his hospital room with her guitar, offering him what he described as a miraculous form of comfort.
“She said, ‘I know what my daddy needs… that’s my daddy,’” Foxx recounted tearfully. As she began to play her guitar, an extraordinary change occurred.
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“They said when she was playing, my vitals went down. The nurses at the nurses’ station were baffled, like, ‘Wow, what did they give him?’ They rushed into the room, and she said, ‘Shh. I got him.’”
Foxx described the moment as deeply spiritual, adding, “What I found out is that God was in that guitar. That’s my spiritual defibrillator.”
The special took an emotional turn when Foxx invited Anelise on stage, embracing her in a heartfelt moment. Through tears, he encouraged her to showcase her talent, saying, “Play, play, play. Let them see your talent, shine Anelise, shine baby.” Anelise, also moved to tears, performed with her guitar as the audience watched the touching father-daughter bond unfold.
Foxx’s revelations offer an intimate glimpse into the challenges he faced and the unwavering support of his family during his recovery. His gratitude for Anelise’s presence and her role in his healing shines through, serving as a testament to the power of love and faith in the face of adversity.
This candid moment from Foxx’s life not only highlights his resilience but also underscores the significance of family in overcoming life’s toughest battles.
