Aston villa star battles sepsis, loss after pregnancy
Missy Bo Kearns, the Aston Villa midfielder, is confronting a profound personal tragedy after suffering a miscarriage last month, compounded by a severe sepsis infection. The England international’s candid account, shared with ITV News, lays bare the physical and emotional toll of a loss she describes as “a different type of grief.”
A sudden descent into crisis
Just two weeks after announcing her pregnancy alongside partner Liam Walsh, Kearns experienced a sudden and alarming deterioration on March 18th. What she initially perceived as pregnancy symptoms – chills and a fever reaching 42C – quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency. Dr. Jodie Blackadder-Weinstein, the Aston Villa team doctor, swiftly recognized the severity of the situation, urging Kearns to seek immediate hospital care. “It was one of the biggest shocks of my life,” Kearns recounted, detailing the devastating discovery of the lost baby and the simultaneous onset of sepsis.
The speed of the unfolding events is staggering. Kearns recounts performing pilates and gym exercises just an hour prior to the crisis, highlighting the abruptness with which her life irrevocably altered. She spent four days in hospital, a period she describes as “four days of hell.” Initially, her focus remained solely on the loss of her child, seemingly overlooking the critical battle against sepsis she was also waging.
The psychological weight of loss
The psychological impact of the experience has been profound, Kearns admitted. She hopes that by sharing her story, others facing similar situations will feel less isolated. The unique nature of grief following pregnancy, she explained, stems from the intense emotional highs and anxieties of expectant parenthood. “People don’t tell people that they’ve been through it. They suffer in silence,” Kearns stated, encouraging those struggling to seek support from charities like Tommy’s.
Returning to Villa and attempting to resume normal life has brought a renewed sense of the loss. The plans she and Walsh had envisioned—the future they had anticipated—have vanished, the reality of their absence hitting her particularly hard in recent weeks. “Most of them, I’ve been struggling, a lot more than the first week or so,” Kearns confessed, acknowledging the ongoing emotional challenge.
Despite the immense pain, Kearns maintains a resolute outlook. “We’ve still got more opportunities going forward, when the time’s right and when we’re ready,” she affirmed. Her sights remain firmly set on next year’s World Cup, a goal she had already envisioned prior to her pregnancy. “My plan while I was pregnant was to make the World Cup squad, and that’s not changed … I’ve realised there’s more to life than football, but now I’m going to enjoy every minute of football like it’s my last because it could have been.”