What you should know about Deidra and DeOndra Dixon

Jamie Foxx credits his sister Deidra Dixon with saving his life.

In the new Netflix special “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…”, the comedian recalled his hospitalization after experiencing a medical emergency in April 2023.

In the special, Foxx said he suffered a brain hemorrhage that led to a stroke that affected his memory.

“I don’t remember 20 days,” he said.

The They Cloned Tyrone star then credited his sister for saving his life by getting him to the right doctors after his first doctor dismissed his illness and sent him home with a cortisone shot.

“They say she was kind of driving around Atlanta aimlessly. She didn’t really know where the hospitals were, but as she drove around she came across Piedmont Hospital. Leave it to Pied,” he told the audience as they clapped along. “The interesting thing is that as she was driving around, she didn’t know anything about Piedmont Hospital, but she had an inkling that there were some angels there.”

Foxx was treated there for his stroke. He said the entire time he was in the operating room, his sister stood outside and prayed for him.

“Here’s the thing: When you dream about what you want to be in life, you don’t dream tragedy,” he said. “You dream that everything is fine. I have life. I have the cars. I have all of this. You don’t dream that something has to go wrong, but if something goes wrong, you need a sister, 1.60 meters tall, full of nothing but love.

“I’m going to tell you about my sister Deidra Dixon and my daughter Corinne Marie Foxx. They held me,” the “Django Unchained” star added.

Over the years, Foxx has also paid tribute to his sister DeOndra Dixon, who died in 2020 at the age of 36.

Scroll down to know more about Jamie Foxx’s siblings.

Deidra Dixon

Deidra Dixon has worked with Foxx on several occasions. She is credited as his hairstylist on a number of projects, including Spider-Man: No Way Home and Baby Driver.

She has also worked with some other great stars. Deidra Dixon is credited with styling Chadwick Boseman’s hair in some of the “Avengers” films and working in the makeup department in “Black Panther.”

In August 2023, Foxx celebrated his sister’s birthday on Instagram and thanked her for standing by him during his medical emergency.

He wrote in his caption: “You are magical, you are beautiful, you are the brave lionesses #leoseason. And without you I wouldn’t be here…if you hadn’t made the decisions you did, I would have lost my life…I love you forever and ever, sister.”

DeOndra Dixon

DeOndra Dixon was born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition in which a person is “born with an extra copy of chromosome 21” and can affect the development of a person’s brain and body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

In a 2018 interview on Dateline, Foxx recalled DeOndra Dixon’s childhood.

“DeOndra has a light that has been burning since she was born,” he said, adding that she was a “little bundle of joy” as a baby.

Growing up, DeOndra Dixon found joy in singing and dancing. Among other things, Foxx praises her for helping him learn “how to live.”

“Sometimes in our world we get caught up in the extras of everything – ‘Ah, the Mercedes isn’t the right color!’ And then you see this girl here. “I just want to live.” I want to dance. I want to love.’ “It brings you back to what life is,” he said on “Dateline.”

In October 2020, Foxx announced that his little sister had died in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.

“I know she is in heaven now, dancing with her wings…even though my pain is incredible, I smile when I think of all the great memories she left me…my family…and her friends… from dancing in the Blame It video… to Dancing on the Grammys… and becoming an ambassador for @globaldownsyndrome… from sliding down my stairs with a grin as wide as the Rio grand piano… to being serenaded with all hers Music… Deondra, you left a hole in my heart… but I will fill it with all the memories you gave me,” he said. “I love you with every part of me.”