Serena Williams Undergoes Emergency Surgery

By Kelly Fisher Posted Mar 2nd 2011 09:15AM

Tennis star Serena Williams suffered a pulmonary embolism Monday and was rushed into emergency surgery, her rep told PEOPLE.

"Monday Serena Williams underwent emergency treatment at Cedars for a hematoma she suffered as a result of treatment for a more critical situation," her rep, Nicole Chabot, said in a statement.

Williams, 29, looked fabulous on the red carpet at Sunday's Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, just days after serveral sighting at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Chabot confirmed the famed tennis player's injury after Monday's scary ordeal.

"Last week, Serena suffered from a pulmonary embolism [a blood clot in the lungs] which was discovered upon her return to L.A. She had been in New York for doctor appointments for the ongoing issues with her foot," the statement continued. "Doctors are continuing to monitor her situation closely to avoid additional complications."

Comments

(33)

Wednesday 02 March

By Mike

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Good point...

By etta may

So very true. I first thought it was just my asthma. I stayed on coumadin (blood thinner) for six years. It's serious, people die from it every day, black or white, rich or poor; young or old. It's everyone's disease!

Thursday 03 March

By jaytor30

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Good luck with your P.E. as a survivor of one i can personally say it can be a hard road to recovery. Hopefully they caught it in time so there isn't sugnificant damage to her lung. My P.E. was two years ago and i still haven't fully recovered, as far as my breathing id concerned

By DS

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One can only wonder why someone recovering from foot surgery is sighted parading in high heels: first at the US Open during an interview with John McEnroe (she missed the event because her foot was injured...) and then at a Charity. The unfortunate thing is that her past is catching up with her: steroid usage makes someone more prone to injuries. A claim she's always denied. Why did she and her sister not play in the 2008 Olympics when the Chinese and the IOC disclosed more stringent drug tests for athletes... Hmmm...

By me64250

Hey "BS", I mean DS, tell that same shea-at to lance armstrong.

By ritchieofoster

I wish you a speedy recovery Serena..God Bless You!

So grateful they caught it because she could have died. I had one about 5 years ago and was blessed to make it to the emergency room. I am a non-famous person but we both survived.

By Nancy Kissinger

Panjo, you're just as bad. Do you not suppose there are tea baggers, such as myself who wish this woman the very best.

just because she injured herself doesn't mean she can't "parade in heels" and it doesn't mean she's on growth hormones, when the Williams sisters stormed the court kicked *** you reason growth hormones-racist fool! they work tennis and it worked for them ,now Serena is having a health scare and she's probably very afraid and I'm sure surrounded by family and friends. she's in the history books are you-just be happy for yourself and don't concern yourself either way and keep your negative thoughts to yourself."hmmm"

By B. Taylor

A dear friend died ten years ago from an embolism after a seemingly minor leg injury. He was only 49 years old and his wife still grieves. My physician suggests everyone (who otherwise has no contraindications) over the age of thirty take a daily baby aspirin and that folks recieving any injury to the lower extremities should do this as well. She's so young and if this can happen to someone so fit, it can happen to anyone.

By joe

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put the fat beach on a canoe with a large hole in it.wait a sec,she is a large hole.lmfao

By wanda

Let those people make juvenile and horrible things about people. I only have two things to say to them... God don't like ugly and karma is a b**ch. When someone you love dies or has a serious health scare...remember the words your wrote on blogs about other people (karma paying you back). I wish Serena well. Everyone please just click on the black exclamation mark and report these idiots who put spam on the blogs, maybe we can get rid of some of them. It only takes a second.

Wednesday 23 March

By kcizzy

I had TWO pulmonary embolisms in ONE year. i was on warfarin after the first one, went off of it for a month, and developed a second one. i was only 37. I had what felt like heartburn for the first one and the second one i had NO symptoms. They are very very scary and my heart goes out to her. i wish her a speedy recovery and am very glad that she is ok.

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