HGTV star Ty Pennington is known for his energy, humor, and ability to transform homes—but he recently opened up about an experience that nearly took his life and surprisingly left him with a deeper sense of gratitude.

Nearly two years after being rushed to emergency surgery when an abscess in his throat closed off his airway, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host is reflecting on how the incident was not just a wake-up call but also a blessing.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Pennington shared how his health crisis became an eye-opening moment about the love and care he has in his life.

“You find out who loves you because people message you, and you’re like, ‘My God, it’s like you died,'” he said. “And people finally message you and say, ‘My God, I forgot how much I love you.'”

For Pennington, this outpouring of support served as a powerful reminder not to take people—or life—for granted.

“Honestly, I think we should all go through something like that so you really appreciate the people that love you,” he added.

Pennington, who is set to star in the upcoming drama No Address, joked that some people might have been relieved at the thought of not having to hear his famously enthusiastic voice anymore. “I’m sure a few people out there were excited: ‘Does that mean we won’t hear his annoying voice anymore?’ he quipped. ‘But unfortunately, the voice did come back, and I’m in really good health.’”

The reality star’s health scare happened in July 2023, shortly after attending the red-carpet premiere of Barbie before flying to Colorado for work. By Tuesday morning, he woke up at 4 a.m. struggling to breathe.

“Turns out, that sore throat I’ve had for the last month was actually an abscess which had grown so large it was closing off my airway,” Pennington shared on Instagram at the time. He was quickly intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Pennington now urges others to pay attention to the signals their bodies send. “A great reminder to LISTEN to your body when it’s telling you something,” he emphasized.

With his health fully restored, Pennington has turned his attention to his latest project, No Address, a film that sheds light on homelessness. The project deepened his perspective on how fragile life can be and how easily things people take for granted—like a home—can be stripped away.