Missy Bo Kearns, Aston Villa and England midfielder, has revealed she endured "four days of hell in hospital" after suffering a miscarriage and developing sepsis earlier this year. The 23-year-old, who made 11 Women's Super League appearances this season, opened up about the traumatic experience in an emotional interview with ITV News.
Medical Emergency and Life-Saving Intervention
Kearns, who announced her pregnancy with partner Liam Walsh — Luton Town player — on 1 March, lost the baby later that month. On 18 March, she felt unwell during training at Aston Villa's Bodymoor Heath facility and consulted club doctor Jodie Blackadder-Weinstein. Her temperature was 42°C, and she was immediately referred to hospital.
"I thought it was just a pregnancy symptom," Kearns said. "But we found out straight away that we'd lost the baby and that I'd got sepsis. I'd been doing pilates and gym an hour before — and my whole life just changed like that." Sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to infection, can be difficult to detect but requires urgent treatment.
'They Probably Saved My Life'
Kearns credited the Villa medical team with saving her life. "I was not wanting to go [to hospital]," she admitted. "But Jodie made me go. I'm so thankful — if I was at home, I'd have just said I felt flu-ish, and someone would've told me to sleep. They probably saved my life."
She spent several days in hospital in Birmingham with Walsh, processing both the loss of their child and her critical health scare. "We had to go through three, four days of hell," Kearns said. "I wasn't even thinking about the sepsis. It was: I've lost my child."
Mental Health and Returning to Football
Kearns has since returned to Aston Villa's training ground to begin rebuilding her fitness, but acknowledges the emotional toll. "I wouldn't say I'm fully coping," she said. "There are good days, but it comes in waves. Yesterday, I was upset all day."
She urged others to avoid "suffering in silence" and highlighted Tommy's, the UK's largest pregnancy and baby loss charity, as a vital support. Football remains a source of strength. "It's my happy place," Kearns said. "I'm excited to build and get ready for next season."
World Cup Dreams Remain Alive
Despite the setback, Kearns still aims to represent England at next year's World Cup in Brazil. She made her senior debut in June 2023 against Spain and has three caps. "My plan while pregnant was to make the squad — and that hasn't changed," she said. "Now I'm going to enjoy every minute of football like it's my last, because it could have been."
Kearns, who joined Aston Villa in 2024 from Liverpool, does not expect to return to competitive action until the next season as she focuses on physical and mental recovery.