The highs, the lows, the touchlines: resilience, determination, coping with loss, career-ending challenges, the struggles of mental health and body image advocating for those who feel they can’t.
Facing immense challenges on and off the pitch, Fran Kirby’s career is defined not only by her impressive skills, goals, and achievements but also by her ability to overcome personal hardships and health issues. Through it all, she remained a beacon of resilience and determination, inspiring fans and teammates alike.
Fran was still young and inexperienced when her life took a sudden and devastating turn. What started as an ordinary evening quickly became one that would change her world forever. Her mother, seemingly healthy, began feeling unwell and collapsed, her head falling onto the table. It was soon discovered that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage—an acute and often fatal condition involving sudden bleeding into the brain’s tissue. Despite her youth and innocence, Fran clung to the hope that everything would be fine, believing her mother would recover. However, the doctors delivered the heartbreaking news that there was nothing they could do.
In a recent interview reflecting on the loss of her mother, Fran opened up about the profound challenges her family faced in coming to terms with their new reality.
“It didn’t really hit our family much, for a long time after that, which I think was probably the worst thing we could have done.”
In the aftermath of her mother’s passing, Fran and her family initially acted as though nothing had changed. She immersed herself in football, refusing to pause and truly confront her grief. Fran eventually found the strength to open up about the pain of losing her mother and the personal journey she took to cope. Her message was clear: grief is universal, and no one has to face it alone.
“I miss my mum.”
Eventually, Fran stepped away from both England and football, as her mental health had deteriorated, leaving her far from the right headspace to continue. Her grief weighed heavily on her daily life—some days, she struggled to get out of bed, attend college, or do anything beyond crying. It also affected how she presented herself to the world, causing her to withdraw and become more introverted. Processing her grief took time and required a deeply personal journey, one focused on rediscovering her true self. This journey, much like climbing a mountain, was long and gruelling, filled with both challenges and moments of triumph.
“From going believing nothing happened to than just the world coming down”.
A friend eventually came to Fran’s rescue, reigniting her passion for football by introducing her to a Sunday league team. With no pressure and no expectations, it was simply about enjoying the game. This relaxed environment allowed Fran to rediscover her love for football, reminding her that it could be fun again.
Fran’s battle with grief never fully disappeared. Even as she moved forward, achieving great success in her career, the pain of losing her mother remained, sometimes resurfacing during her brightest moments. While the struggle continued, Fran found ways to manage it, building her career with the comfort of knowing she was making her mother proud.
“It’s normal to feel a certain way when you’ve dealt with such bad experiences in your life.”
Fran faced more than just loss; she also endured various health issues along with struggles related to mental health and body image. Reflecting on her experience, she now believes she should have recognised the early warning signs that indicated something was amiss, much like the situation with her mother, which began on an ordinary day.
While having dinner with her Chelsea teammates, Fran felt a tightness in her chest and suddenly went pale before collapsing. Upon waking, she was disoriented and quickly lost consciousness again. Emergency services were called, and paramedics, along with Chelsea doctor Francisco Moreira, arrived to assist her. She later learned she had suffered from Pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart that causes chest pain.
While mild cases typically recover within a few weeks, more severe cases can take months to a year. Fran returned to training after just two weeks, but she knew her body wasn’t ready, and it was too soon to resume playing. Both Fran and Chelsea manager Emma Hayes recognised that her health was far more important than football.
Eventually she opened up about her struggles with her condition and the reality of what she was experiencing. Living with this condition can range from manageable to severe, depending on treatment and support.
“I had thought numerous times that I was going to have to retire.”
Despite the pain and challenges Fran faced on her road to recovery, hope remained. During lockdown, she distanced herself from social media, allowing her to ignore negativity and focus on her well-being. Gradually, she worked with various professionals, easing her symptoms and returning to training. With a better understanding of her condition, she learned to manage it effectively.
Those living with the same or similar conditions found inspiration in Fran’s journey. Her perseverance and refusal to let health struggles derail her career allowed her to return to what she loved most—football. Fran made her comeback stronger and more determined than ever.
Despite her progress, Fran faced further challenges related to her knee, a persistent issue throughout her career. She had a tripartite patella, a condition where two bone fragments are connected by tissue but not fused to the patella. This injury ultimately sidelined her from the 2023 World Cup squad, as she needed surgery to remove the fragments and alleviate her knee pain.
The most important lesson Fran learned while battling her mental health struggles is that “it’s okay not to be okay.” This realisation dismantles the stigma surrounding mental health, reminding us that whether someone struggles to get out of bed or feels overwhelmed by going out, it’s perfectly acceptable to have tough days. Fran emphasises that everyone experiences difficult moments, and no one should be judged for it.
Within the community, Fran has worked with initiatives like the Chelsea FC Foundation which uses football to encourage, develop, and propel people into social groups allowing everyone to experience equality within football. Alongside this Fran has also partaken in numerous campaigns, advocating for women’s sport and equality, where they have worked to inspire the next generation of female athletes. Overall, her main goal when partaking in these opportunities within the community is to allow young people to fight to pursue their dreams despite any challenges that may stand in their way.
Fran is an inspiration to athletes and anyone facing hardship. She has not only overcome various challenges in her life but has also remained one of the top-performing players in women’s football, earning numerous accolades along the way.
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