Key Takeaways
- The Aston Villa star developed life-threatening sepsis after suffering a miscarriage last month
- She has described the emotional trauma as a unique form of grief caused by sudden hormonal changes and lost hopes
- The midfielder remains determined to earn a place in England’s squad for the next World Cup
Missy Bo Kearns has revealed how medical staff at Aston Villa played a crucial role in protecting her health after she faced a devastating miscarriage. The England international explained that she suffered from sepsis, a serious blood infection, following the loss of her pregnancy.
The 25-year-old had shared happy news about expecting a baby with her partner just a fortnight before the tragedy struck. She recalled feeling unwell on 18 March, experiencing severe shaking and a dangerously high temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Initially, she believed these were normal pregnancy symptoms. However, the club’s team doctor quickly identified the danger and insisted she contact her partner and go to hospital immediately.
Kearns described this period as one of the most shocking moments of her life. She explained that merely an hour before falling ill, she had been exercising normally. The situation changed rapidly when doctors confirmed she had lost the baby and was fighting sepsis.
She spent four difficult days receiving treatment in hospital. Looking back, she recognises how serious her condition was. She expressed deep gratitude towards the Villa medical team, noting that their quick action probably prevented a fatal outcome. During this time, her main focus remained on the loss of her child rather than her own medical emergency.
The psychological effects have proved challenging for the footballer. She wants her openness to help other women who might hide their pain. She explained that pregnancy loss creates a specific kind of sorrow. The process involves extreme highs of discovering the pregnancy followed by deep worry about reaching the safety of the second trimester. When miscarriage happens, the sudden hormonal changes and disappearance of pregnancy signs create overwhelming grief that differs from other losses.
She noted that many people keep such experiences private, suffering alone without support. She hopes her story will encourage others to speak up and use support services from specialised charities.
Returning to training and daily routines has made the reality harder to process. Kearns explained that facing cancelled future plans has brought fresh waves of sadness. She admits to struggling more now than during the first week after the event, trying to stay occupied but not feeling fully able to cope yet.
Despite feeling isolated initially, she recognises that miscarriage affects many families. She feels fortunate to be young and healthy with future chances to start a family when ready.
Her professional ambitions remain strong. Kearns still aims to represent England at the World Cup next year. She says this experience has shown her that football is not everything, but it has also made her value every moment on the pitch as precious.