Louise Thompson has commemorated the milestone of one year without undergoing any emergency surgical procedure or hospital admission, marking a significant recovery following a succession of serious health complications arising after the birth of her son, Leo, in 2021.
The 35-year-old former Made in Chelsea cast member experienced a near-fatal incident during childbirth, having undergone an emergency Caesarean section due to severe complications that resulted in the loss of approximately three and a half litres of blood and necessitated a five-week stay in intensive care.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ms. Thompson developed post-traumatic stress disorder and postnatal anxiety and spent the subsequent three years intermittently hospitalized for various medical conditions. During this period, she reported partial hearing loss and episodes of severe emotional distress. In 2022, she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder characterised by joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue.
Her health struggles continued into early 2024, when she was compelled to curtail a trip to Antigua and return to the United Kingdom after experiencing acute haemorrhaging, reportedly “losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes.” This episode ultimately led to the fitting of a lifesaving stoma bag to manage ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
In November of the same year, Ms. Thompson was again hospitalized for emergency surgery after developing septic shock. Reflecting on that period, she remarked that “the world felt a bit unkind” towards her at the time.
Taking to her Instagram account on Sunday, Ms. Thompson marked 12 months since her last medical emergency, sharing comparative photographs illustrating her physical and emotional recovery. One image, taken a year prior, depicted the toll that her health crises had taken on her body, while a recent photograph captured her celebrating the milestone over dinner with her fiancé, Mr. Ryan Libbey.
She captioned the post:
“We’re celebrating one year with no emergency surgeries and no hospital admissions — and what a difference a year can make.
A note for anyone currently in the trenches: if you’re struggling this winter, remember that the hardest seasons shape the strongest souls.”
In a second image — a mirror selfie from the previous year — Ms. Thompson appeared visibly emaciated, accompanied by a reflection on the progress she has made.
“One year ago, I had to start my journey back to health again, for the fourth time. But I did it. Don’t mistake your current struggle for a permanent state. If I can do it, you can too.”
In an accompanying message to her followers, Ms. Thompson explained that she wished to “celebrate health” and offer encouragement to those currently facing hardship. She acknowledged that her ordeal had been both “hideous” and “clarifying,” stating that enduring such trials had revealed inner strength and self-knowledge she had not previously recognized.
She wrote:
“When you’ve been through something that cracks you open, it makes you discover capabilities you didn’t know you had… It’s hideous, but it’s clarifying and liberating.”
Concluding her message, she urged followers to view her experience as a “hopeful story,” emphasizing resilience and the transience of suffering:
“Please, do not mistake your current struggle for a permanent state. Your best days haven’t even happened yet. Sometimes all you can do is play make-believe with your future self… Hang tight for the better times.”
Reflecting on her earlier state of frailty, Ms. Thompson admitted she once felt “cracked wide open” and “like death,” but affirmed that perseverance had brought her through to a place of renewed strength and clarity.#newsafro_
