'Four days of hell in hospital' - England star Kearns on miscarriage and sepsis ordeal

Aston Villa midfielder Missy Bo Kearns has bravely shared her harrowing experience of suffering a miscarriage and contracting sepsis, detailing a period she described as "four days of hell in hospital." Her candid account, shared with ITV News, sheds light on the devastating personal impact of pregnancy loss and the critical importance of swift medical intervention.

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It was one of the biggest shocks of my life. I thought it was just like a pregnancy symptom, and the doctor came in and checked my temperature... I was 42 degrees, but I was shaking.

Kearns recounted feeling unwell at her club's training ground on March 18th, but it was the club's sports doctor, Jodie Blackadder-Weinstein, who recognized the severity of her symptoms, including a dangerously high temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. This prompt action led Kearns to the hospital, where she and her partner, Liam Walsh, received the devastating news that she had lost the baby and developed sepsis.

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We had to go through like, three, four days of hell in hospital, the two of us, up in Birmingham and, I don't think we realized how much we went through until now.

The footballer's narrative underscores the often-invisible battles faced by women. While the initial shock was the loss of her child, the subsequent fight against sepsis, a life-threatening condition, added another layer of trauma. Kearns' gratitude towards Dr. Blackadder-Weinstein is palpable, emphasizing that without this intervention, the outcome could have been far worse. She highlights how easily such symptoms could be dismissed as mere flu if not for professional medical assessment.

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I'm so thankful for the doctors here at Villa, because if I was at home that day, and I probably would have rung my mum saying, 'Oh, I feel a bit like flu-ish symptoms', everyone would just say, 'Have a sleep' or whatnot, but Jodie made me go to the hospital.

While Kearns is working towards rebuilding her fitness and mental strength, she acknowledges the ongoing nature of grief, with good days and bad days. Her openness serves as a powerful message against "suffering in silence" and points to resources like Tommy's charity for support. For the football community and beyond, Kearns' story is a stark reminder of the physical and emotional complexities surrounding pregnancy and loss, and the vital role of medical professionals in navigating such crises.

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I wouldn't say I'm fully coping. There's days like today where I feel good, I've been in and around the [Aston Villa] girls and stuff, I've done my bike, I've done my testing, like, ready to get back on to it.