On the morning of her thirtieth birthday, Connecticut Solar veteran Tiffany Mitchell revealed on Instagram simply why she’s been out of fee since mid-July.
“Overcoming sepsis with 6 stomach abscess is a miracle,” Mitchell wrote. “Clearly these are some fairly private moments I’m selecting to share, and these aren’t even the more serious, however to be put able the place I might have given up, I’m extraordinarily grateful and blessed to have the ability to stroll away from this, wholesome, in good spirits and again to doing what I really like.”
Belly abscess is a group of pus or fluid that types within the stomach. If left untreated, it will possibly result in sepsis, a extreme systemic inflammatory response to an infection that may result in acute organ dysfunction. Micro organism from an untreated stomach abscess can enter the bloodstream and unfold to different organs and tissues, which might be deadly.
Whereas the precise particulars of Mitchell’s situation stay unsure, it’s clear that the sickness that stored her away from the Connecticut Solar was a severe one — and that she’s again wholesome.
Within the Instagram put up, Mitchell thanked her Connecticut Solar teammates for staying by her aspect throughout her hospital keep.
“Thanks to my staff and group who supported me by means of all of this continually checked on me to ship love and prayers throughout this complete course of,” she wrote. “Got here to see me within the hospital, despatched flowers and simply gave me fixed reminders of despite the fact that I’m not there bodily with them, I used to be nonetheless very a lot aside of them.”
Earlier this month, Solar head coach Stephanie White stated she hoped Mitchell would return by the tip of the season, however famous she didn’t have a definitive timeline. Mitchell’s actual well being standing was by no means revealed, however Stephanie White was emotional when requested about her rejoining the staff in avenue garments a couple of weeks in the past.
“[I’m] grateful that she’s right here with us, and we will feed off her vitality, that we will love on her,” White stated, per the Hartford Courant’s Emily Adams.
Steph White chokes up a bit requested about Tiffany Mitchell postgame, says it was a shock that she was right here as we speak.
“Simply grateful … grateful that she’s right here with us and we will feed off her vitality, that we will love on her.”
No replace on whether or not she’ll play once more this yr.
— Emily Adams (@eaadams6) September 7, 2024
Mitchell averaged 4.9 factors on 34.9% taking pictures in 24 common season video games with the Solar previous to the sickness. The 5 ‘9 guard performed for the Indiana Fever for seven seasons and for the Minnesota Lynx for 1 earlier than becoming a member of Connecticut this previous offseason. In her 9-year WNBA profession, Mitchell has averaged 8.8 factors on 22.7 minutes an evening.
Mitchell nonetheless hasn’t returned to sport play with Connecticut, however she has been training with the staff for a couple of weeks.
Mitchell shared a glimpse into her mindset all through the life-threatening sickness.
“I knew my time right here wasn’t up, he didn’t deliver me this far, allowed me to satisfy and expertise the issues I’ve simply to depart me,” she wrote. “Even on the times I had zero battle left in me, the individuals he put round me throughout this time allowed me to maintain combating this illness off every day. Making it by means of all of this was a reminder to myself that I’m suppose to be right here. Do every thing I can to make a distinction and I’ve been given a second likelihood at life. Life doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t matter how wholesome you might be — your life can change in a second. Be glad about your well being.”