Major League Baseball star Travis Swaggerty has called on fans to send their prayers to his wife, after she was left with a serious blood disease following an attack by a raccoon.
Swaggerty - who is an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates - revealed his wife Peyton was bitten by the animal over a year ago, and has been left with a 'painful' blood condition. In a statement on social media the MLB star revealed the condition had taken away his partner's quality of wife.
Taking to social media, he said: "Tomorrow, my wife Peyton heads to the Mayo Clinic (with Sutton [daughter] and her parents and Nana) after being attacked by a rabid raccoon over a year ago and a lot of guesses and medicines have been thrown at her.
"She's now been diagnosed with an extremely rare, painful blood disease that has completely taken over her body. It has riddled her with unresolved pain and problems and completely taken her quality of life away from her.
"I wanted to share this to ask for support and prayers for her, along with reminding everyone to not take anything for granted in this life, especially the little things. Her faith and trust in God has never wavered.
"Please take the time to pray for her if you feel compelled to and for the doctors to give her some comfort, and ultimately a solution. Proverbs 3:5-6." Following his statement, Swaggerty also paid tribute to his wife's parenting despite her health issues.
He wrote: "Wanted to add to this and say regardless of how she's feeling, she always makes sure she's mom first. Every day she does everything in her power to make sure that Sutton has a great, fun day.
'She fights through everything she's feeling to be the best mom she can be." Peyton herself posted an update on her own social media channels, revealing she was on her way to the clinic and had placed her trust in the 'doctors' and god'.
She tweeted: "'Thank you all for the love & prayers! We’re on our way to the Mayo Clinic right now. I'm trusting God and the doctors!" The couple tied the knot in December 2020 after dating for five years. They then had their daughter Sutton one year later.