Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
” I enjoy my group, and we had an astounding season last year, and I desire to play! My individual physician who has treated me for Lyme disease for years advised me that Im at high risk for contracting and having issues from COVID-19.
” Im thinking things over, speaking with my doctor and my spouse, and look forward to sharing what I ultimately plan to do very soon.”
Elle Duncan @elleduncanESPNI cant envision being in the position of @De11eDonne. Her openness and credibility and vulnerability are so apparent here and I hope the @WNBA does the best thing here. Thank you for sharing your story w/ us. https://t.co/soRMEdrbgR
The 2020 regular season is set up to begin July 25. The ruling WNBA champ Mystics will play the Indiana Fever on opening day at 5 p.m. ET.
She likewise kept in mind that the doctor who treats her disease offered the WNBAs independent panel a complete report about the health risks:
” The doctor who treats my Lyme disease wrote a complete report, detailing my case history and verifying my high-risk status. The Mystics group medical professional (who is incredible, however whos never ever treated my Lyme illness) wrote a report essentially deferring to my Lyme illness doctor, and concurring about my high threat profile. I filed both reports to the league, as needed, in addition to a signed kind waiving my right to an appeal.
” A few days later, the leagues panel of doctors– without ever as soon as speaking to me or to either of my doctors– notified me that they were denying my ask for a health exemption.
” Im now left with two choices: I can either risk my life … or forfeit my paycheck.
” Honestly? That injures.
And perhaps being hurt simply makes me naive. Feelings are pretty much all I have left right now. I dont have the desire to go to war with the league on this.
The two-time WNBA MVP noted her letter wasnt planned to announce a decision about her strategies, as shes “still thinking really thoroughly and weighing my alternatives.”
All 12 WNBA groups are currently at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the 22-game routine season and complete postseason will be held.
In a statement launched to ESPNs John Barr and Sarah Spain, Delle Donne stated a panel of independent doctors rejected the six-time All-Stars request to sit out this season:
” The independent panel of physicians the league appointed to review high-risk cases have actually encouraged that Im not high threat, and ought to be permitted to play in the bubble.
” I enjoy my team, and we had an amazing season last year, and I wish to play! The concern is whether or not the WNBA bubble is safe for me. My personal physician who has actually treated me for Lyme illness for years advised me that Im at high danger for contracting and having issues from COVID-19.
After her request to choose out of the 2020 WNBA season for medical reasons was denied, Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne has opened up about her longstanding health issues.
In an open letter on the Players Tribune, Delle Donne composed that she has to take 64 tablets a day to combat Lyme disease:
” Thats 25 before breakfast, another 20 after breakfast, another 10 before dinner, and another 9 before bed.
” I take 64 pills a day, and I seem like its slowly killing me. Or if its not killing me, directly, then I at least understand something for sure: Its actually bad for me. Longterm, taking that much medication on that routine of a routine is just straight-up bad for you. Its literally a sophisticated trick that you play on yourself– a lie that you inform your body so it keeps believing whatever is fine.”
Delle Donne told Patricia Babcock McGraw of the Daily Herald in 2014 that she was detected with Lyme disease six years previously.
Barr and Spain kept in mind that Lyme disease isnt among the list of hidden conditions from the Centers for Disease Control that might make somebody a greater danger for severe illness from the coronavirus.
Delle Donne wrote that the number of pills she takes each day “is the only way to keep my condition under any sort of control” and that shes had serious issues in the past from illnesses like a common cold:
” Ive been informed time and time again over the years that my condition makes me immunocompromised– that part of what Lyme does is it incapacitates my immune system. Theres just been so numerous instances where Ive contracted something that should not have been that huge of a deal, but it blew my immune system out and turned into something frightening.”
” Ive been informed time and time once again over the years that my condition makes me immunocompromised– that part of what Lyme does is it incapacitates my immune system.” The medical professional who treats my Lyme disease wrote up a complete report, detailing my medical history and verifying my high-risk status. The Mystics team medical professional (who is awesome, but whos never treated my Lyme disease) composed a report basically deferring to my Lyme disease medical professional, and concurring about my high threat profile.
