Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx has revealed the details of a severe medical emergency that struck him in April 2023, which he had kept private until now. Speaking candidly during his Netflix comedy special "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was …", the 56-year-old actor described the frightening ordeal and how it led him to rediscover his faith.

Foxx, who was filming "Back in Action" with Cameron Diaz, initially brushed off what seemed to be a severe headache. After a cortisone shot from a doctor in Atlanta, he was sent home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, felt something was seriously wrong. Foxx was critical of the initial medical care, joking, "What the **** is that? I don't know if you can do Yelps for doctors, but that's half a star." His concerns were confirmed when Dixon rushed him to a nearby hospital.

At Piedmont Hospital, just a short distance from where Foxx was filming, doctors discovered the cause of his distress: a brain bleed that had led to a stroke. "If I don't go in his head right now, we're going to lose him," Foxx recalled his sister being told. She prayed outside the operating room while doctors worked quickly to save his life.

For Foxx, the experience was surreal. "Your life doesn't flash before your face. It was kind of oddly peaceful," he explained, recalling his sensation of being in a tunnel, unsure whether he was heading towards the light or something darker. "I looked at the end of the tunnel, and I thought I saw the devil-like, 'Come on.' Or is that Puffy [Sean Combs]? I'm around."

Though he had kept details of his condition under wraps, speculation ran rampant among fans and in the media. When Foxx woke up in May, he found himself in a wheelchair with no memory of the events leading up to his hospitalization. Doctors informed him that while a full recovery was possible, it was likely to be "the worst year of his life."

Foxx credits his recovery to a combination of medical care, faith, and humor. Through his struggle, he found solace in keeping his "pickle" private from his female nurse, only to discover later that she had been bathing him for over a month and a half. His sense of humour remained crucial, as he explained, "If I can stay funny, I can stay alive."

The experience has also deepened his spiritual beliefs, with Foxx acknowledging the role of his Christian faith in his healing process.

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Foxx continues his recovery and is set to appear in "Back in Action", scheduled for release on January 17, 2024. Meanwhile, his Netflix special "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was …" is already available for streaming, offering an intimate look into the actor's life and the extraordinary challenges he's overcome.