Ty Pennington faced breathing difficulties on July 11 and was rushed to a hospital in Colorado. The renowned HGTV star took to Instagram to share the alarming news. He posted a photo of himself seated in a hospital bed, just two days after attending the premiere of the “Barbie” movie.
In his post, Pennington revealed that what he had initially dismissed as a persistent sore throat turned out to be an abscess, which had grown to such an extent that it was obstructing his airway. The severity of the situation escalated rapidly, leading to his intubation and an emergency flight to the ICU in Denver.
“Turns out, that sore throat Ive had for the last month was actually an abscess which had grown so large it was closing off my airway. Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver,” he wrote.
Although the exact location of the abscess was not disclosed by Pennington, it appears that it might have been a peritonsillar abscess, causing an obstruction in his throat. Medical sources, like Mount Sinai, warn that such abscesses can be life-threatening since they have the potential to cut off a person’s airway if left untreated for too long.
Pennington underwent surgery within 24 hours and was admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring by the medical team. Fortunately, his condition improved, and he was able to leave the ICU after two days with a positive outlook on his recovery.
Expressing his gratitude, he took a moment to acknowledge the “amazing staff at St. Anthony’s in Lakewood,” Colorado, as well as Summit Health in Frisco. Many of his fans flooded the comments section of the post with well-wishes for Pennington’s health.
Before signing off, he also shared a word of advice.
“It’s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you,” says Ty Pennington
In the wake of a terrifying experience, Ty Pennington took the opportunity to emphasize the significance of paying attention to one’s body and seeking medical advice when necessary.
“It’s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you — and to seek medical advice when something seems off,” said Pennington.
Reflecting on the severity of his health issue, he expressed gratitude for simply being alive after the ordeal. As news of his health scare spread, fans flooded the comments section of his post with heartfelt get well soon messages.
One Instagram comment read, “Hopefully you’ve just prevented this for many others who will now know to ask their doctors to check. I’m so happy to see you back on tv/HGTV. Heal well and fast.”
Another Instagram user said, “Listen to your body is great advice. I pray you have a speedy recovery. My God bless you.”
Among Pennington’s recent achievements was his team’s victory in the “Battle on the Beach” challenge. However, due to his health issues, he couldn’t immediately share the news.
In a subsequent Instagram post, he congratulated the winners, Ashley Basnight and Steve Lewis of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, expressing his joy at working with them and forming a lasting creative bond.