Swedish Soccer Star in Intensive Care After Doctors Find ‘Several’ Blood Clots in His Brain
Kristoffer Olsson was taken to a Denmark hospital after "losing consciousness at his home" on Feb. 20, according to a statement from FC Midtjylland
Swedish midfielder Kristoffer Olsson remains in intensive care with blood clots on his brain
On Feb. 20, Olsson was admitted to a Denmark hospital after "losing consciousness" at home
Doctors hope to "slowly try to wean" the athlete off of his ventilator soon
Swedish soccer player Kristoffer Olsson remains in intensive care after doctors discovered "several small blood cots on both sides" of his brain, his club FC Midtjylland said on Thursday.
Olsson, 28, was taken to a Denmark hospital after "losing consciousness at his home" on Feb. 20, according to the club's statement.
Doctors determined that the blood clots are a "result of an extremely rare inflammatory condition in the vessels of the brain" following "weeks" of "extensive examinations, scans and tests" conducted since Olsson was admitted.
"The diagnosis matches the thesis on which the medical specialists have so far worked and treated Kristoffer," Thursday's statement said.
FC Midtjylland added that doctors will "slowly try to wean" Olsson off of the ventilator he is currently on in the "coming period," though he "remains hospitalized in intensive care, just as it is still uncertain to say anything about the time horizon of the treatment and the final prognosis."
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The Swedish midfielder's team said he is "still surrounded by his immediate family and parts of FC Midtjylland's staff, and is being treated by specialists in the field," on Thursday.
"Kristoffers Olsson's condition is now assessed as stable, and the doctors continue to see little progress. At the same time, they find that Kristoffer has an increasing degree of consciousness," the statement said.
The team's CEO, former player Claus Steinlein thanked "the public and the press" at the end of Thursday's statement for "having shown warm-hearted support, respect and consideration in recent times towards Kristoffer as well as his family and the healthcare staff" as the club navigates Olsson's recovery.
"It means an incredible amount. Also for us at FC Midtjylland, where players and staff are obviously very affected by Kristoffer's situation. Therefore, I would like to thank you for the fact that our message has been received and continues to be respected," Steinlein added.
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Prior to Thursday's statement, the club told ESPN that Olsson's condition was "not related to self-harm or external factors," in February.
Olsson was born in Norrköping, Sweden and drafted by Arsenal FC in 2013. In 2021, he married Sofie Jakobsson in Sweden.
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