Serena Williams has always been the epitome of strength and inspiration for many people out there. She has achieved almost everything in life and her performance, tenacity, and athleticism speak for themselves.

But unfortunately, things haven’t been that easy for her. The 40-year-old Williams had to go through a lot after welcoming Olympia. It is even more astounding given everything she went through during labor, especially the subsequent pulmonary embolism.

The nightmare that no one expected

Serena described the incident in an Elle magazine essay earlier this year. She also discussed how she battled to avoid becoming yet another tragic statistic in the delivery room. She went on to talk further about her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and how helpful he was to her.

“Poor Alexis. He tried again to leave for a moment at home, but they found another blood clot. He was distraught—and the man needed a shower!” she wrote.

She further went on to state that “He showered in the hospital room because he was terrified to walk out the door. He didn’t try again, and I didn’t have any more surgeries.”

READ MORE: ‘Love the Word Inclusive’- Serena Williams’ Inspiring Initiative Is All Set to Make New Waves in the Fashion World

Williams has had a high-risk tendency for blood clots for eleven years. The tennis star experienced her first pulmonary embolism in 2011. She was nearly brought to the brink of death, and as a result, she had to watch out for a recurrence of her health issues. Even after the persistent dismissal of a healthcare professional, she stated in Elle that she had to stand up for herself when the symptoms of a clot started to appear during childbirth.

Serena Williams and her last dance

Serena Williams’ tennis career came to an abrupt end on 2nd Sept 2022, when she went down to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia with a score of 5-7, 7-6, 1-6 in the US Open 2022. The tennis diva had previously said that this would be her last competition before moving on to other endeavors.

WATCH THE STORY: Serena Williams’s husband Alexis Ohanian celebrates daughter Olympia’s special day with an emotional wish 

Williams was brimming with emotion at the conclusion of the match. However, she continued to reflect on her career and conveyed her gratitude to those who helped her develop into the outstanding tennis player she has been. Let’s hope that Williams doesn’t get to face health issues anymore and may all her wishes come true.