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‘I Almost Died..’- 6-Year-Old Life and Death Battle Might Haunt Serena Williams as Painful Pregnancy Story Left a Horrific Mark on Her and Husband Alexis Ohanian

Published 08/04/2023, 10:02 AM EDT

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Serena Williams has announced in an exuberant baby shower Olympia is going to get a younger sister. However, only Williams knows how difficult it was for her to meet her first baby too. The witness to the ordeal she went through is none other than her husband Alexis Ohanian who has since then led an awareness drive on maternal health. Now, as the new baby is scheduled to arrive soon, the apprehensions have started to grow.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion went through multiple challenges on the court. However, none was as difficult as meeting Olympia for the first time.

As Serena Williams gears up for her second baby, flashbacks of Olympia’s birth become inevitable 

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The American tennis legend recently had a joyous baby shower where she got to know that they are going to have another baby girl. Olympia has always wanted to be a big sister.

Williams herself wanted a big family. This new addition to the family is manifesting all of their dreams. However, Serena Williams went through a difficult time when she was pregnant with her first child.  Her husband, Alexis Ohanian has since then vowed to be a voice for maternal health.

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In her 2018 HBO documentary, Serena, she narrated the ordeal she had to go through. She stated, “I can’t believe how much went wrong on the way to meeting her.” She added, “I almost died.” However, despite all of that, she has focused on the blessings she has received.

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Nonetheless, Ohanian is also not taking any chances. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, he stated, “We’re also obviously taking every precaution and doing everything we can to make sure everything goes smoothly for Serena.” 

For Williams to say that she almost died is not an exaggeration. The ordeal started from the time when she had to undergo an emergency C-section. The couple were happy to have Olympia, but the dreadful saga had just begun.

Williams’ fight for her life began after giving birth to Olympia

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The couple thought the worst was over after Williams gave birth to Olympia. However, the doctors diagnosed her with a pulmonary embolism in 2010. Since then she has been on constant treatment for it.

So, when she felt breathlessness after giving birth to Olympia, she knew something was wrong with her. She called the nurse and requested a CT scan. However, things did not go down that smoothly. After Williams became adamant, the scans were taken, and she was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism once again. 

Right after her childbirth, she had to undergo yet another surgery for her diagnosis. These dreadful memories from the past continue to haunt the couple.

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Now, the due date is nearing and so are their apprehensions. Williams’ fans have time and again wished her to have a safe delivery so that this time she meets her new baby with no scares.

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Written by:

Shivali Sharma

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Shivali Sharma is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in off-court topics and has a particular focus on the legendary ‘Queen of the Court’, Serena Williams. With a wealth of experience in the industry, Shivali has authored numerous articles covering varied topics concerning the 23-time Grand Slam champion, including her personal life, career, and more. In addition to her work on Serena Williams, Shivali is also a huge fan of Naomi Osaka and admires the four-time Major winner, particularly for her advocacy for mental health.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha