FRAN KIRBY is set for an emotional return to the WSL after being told she may never play football again.
The Chelsea star, 27, has been out of league action since last November when she learned she had a rare heart condition.
Fran Kirby is set to return for Chelsea after being told she may have to retireCredit: Rex Features
Pericarditis — an inflammation of the lining around the heart — left Kirby with severe chest pains and unable to do even basic tasks.
She was sofa-ridden at her home during the long, crippling months she battled the illness.
The England forward revealed: “There was a period where I was told by the cardiologist that if I didn’t slow down, I could become chronic and never play again.
“I remember reading about the illness because I had no idea what it was when I was diagnosed.
“I never read any stories where someone had overcome it.
It has been a tough journey but it’s definitely shaped me into who I am now. It made me realise how precious these moments when you play are
Fran Kirby
“But I wanted to show to myself that I could get over this and I had a positive story to give.
“It has been a tough journey but it’s definitely shaped me into who I am now. It made me realise how precious these moments when you play are.”
The forward hailed Chelsea boss Emma Hayes for being her “rock” as she struggled to recover.
And her Chelsea pals, who would visit her for a cuppa, bring her snacks and even helped her build a puzzle to take her mind off things.
Kirby added: “Emma made sure that I was protected from everything. At the beginning, I wanted my illness to be very private.
Fran Kirby’s team-mates say she looks like a ‘new signing’ for the WSL title-holdersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
She was the one who was questioning the doctor all the time, saying, ‘Can we try this? Can we try that?’ She was always trying to find answers.
“They also respected when I wanted to be left alone.
“They knew if I went to lie on the physiotherapy bed in training, that was my time where I needed to be left alone.”
“When I wasn’t feeling great, I could just go into her office and cry in front of her and not feel embarrassed about it.
“And my team-mates would always make an effort to come round, even if I wasn’t in the best frame of mind.”
Kirby says she feels good as she turns her attention to facing Manchester United for Chelsea’s opening fixture.
Her team-mates reckon she looks like a “new signing” alongside the likes of Sam Kerr, Beth England and now Pernille Harder in the Blues’ star-studded attack.
She said: “They were definitely the reason I kept pushing.
“I wasn’t a player any more, I was a fan of them, and I really enjoyed going through that switch with them.
“There was nothing that made me think, ‘Well, this is going to be chronic’. I knew I was going to get over it, whether it took two weeks or six months.
“And If I’m honest, I actually feel better.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
