On the morning of her 30th birthday, Connecticut Sun veteran Tiffany Mitchell took to Instagram to explain why she's been sidelined since mid-July.
“It is a miracle that I overcame sepsis with six abdominal abscesses,” Mitchell wrote. “Obviously, this is a pretty personal moment that I choose to share, and it's not even the worst thing that happened, but I feel so grateful and blessed to have been put in a situation where I could have given up and come out of this healthy, well, and able to do the things I love again.”
Abdominal abscess It is a collection of pus and fluid that forms in the abdomen. If left untreated, If left untreated, it can lead to sepsis, a severe systemic inflammatory response to infection that can lead to acute organ failure. If left untreated, bacteria from an abdominal abscess can enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs and tissues, potentially becoming fatal.
While the exact details of Mitchell's condition are unclear, it is clear that the illness that prevented her from appearing at the Connecticut Sun was serious, and she has since returned to health.
In an Instagram post, Mitchell thanked his Connecticut Sun teammates for being by his side while he was hospitalized.
“I want to thank the team and organizations that have supported me through all of this – they've been there all this time, sending me love and prayers and caring,” she wrote. “They came to see me in the hospital, sent flowers, and reminded me that even though I'm not with them physically, I'm still a part of them.”
Earlier this month, Suns head coach Stephanie White said she hopes Mitchell will be back by the end of the season but has no definitive timeline. Mitchell's exact health status was not disclosed, but White was emotional when asked about his return to the team in street clothes a few weeks ago.
“[I’m] “We're grateful that she's here with us so that we can feed off her energy and love on her,” White told The Hartford Courant's Emily Adams.
Steph White was a bit stumped when asked after the game about Tiffany Mitchell, but said it was a surprise to her to be here today.
“I'm just grateful … that she's with us and we get to feed off her energy and love on her.”
There is no update on whether she will play this year.
— Emily Adams (@eaadams6) September 7, 2024
Mitchell averaged 4.9 points and shot 34.9 percent from the field in 24 regular-season games for the Suns before getting sick. The 5-foot-9 guard played seven seasons with the Indiana Fever and one with the Minnesota Lynx before trading to Connecticut last offseason. WNBA Mitchell is averaging 8.8 points in 22.7 minutes per game for his career.
Mitchell has yet to return to the game at Connecticut but has been practicing with the team for several weeks.
Mitchell shared a little bit about what it was like to be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
“I knew my life wasn't over. He didn't bring me here, he gave me the opportunities I had to meet and experience, and then he left me behind,” she wrote. “The people he put around me during this time have allowed me to continue fighting this disease every day, even on the days when I didn't have the energy to fight. Going through all of this has allowed me to tell myself that I was meant to be here. I have been given a second chance at life if I do everything I can to make a difference. Life doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter how healthy you are. Life can change in an instant. Be grateful for your health.”
