Tiffany Mitchell of the Connecticut Sun talks about her battle with sepsis and her life

After being sidelined since mid-July with an unspecified illness, Connecticut Sun guard Tiffany Mitchell said she had been in the hospital overcoming sepsis. Mitchell explained the situation in an Instagram post on her 30th birthday.

“Overcoming sepsis with six abdominal abscesses is a miracle,” she wrote. “Of course, these are some very personal moments that I want to share with you, and they aren't even the worst, but being put in a situation where I could have given up makes me extremely grateful and happy that I was able to come out of it healthy and in good spirits and get back to doing what I love.”

“I'm entering my 30s full of LIFE, gratitude and happiness. I will come back better than ever!”

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body has an extreme response to an infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, about 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis each year, with about 350,000 of those cases being fatal.

In her post, Mitchell thanked her friends, family and The Sun for the love and support they gave her during this difficult time.

“I had to surrender. No matter how strong you feel physically and mentally, there are things you cannot handle alone,” Mitchell wrote. “Then you have to really dive into your faith and know [God] will never put you in situations you can't handle. And will always find a way to get through it. I knew my time here wasn't over, he didn't bring me this far, he allowed me to learn and experience the things I have now, only to leave me behind.

“… Going through all of this was a reminder to me that I was meant to be here. I did everything I could to make a difference and I was given a second chance at life.”

Earlier this month, Sun head coach Stephanie White was visibly emotional when asked about Mitchell's status and was unable to provide an update on when she would be able to play. However, Mitchell has been back with the team for several weeks.

“We are grateful that she is here with us and that we can benefit from her energy and love her,” White said on September 6.

The Sun will face the Indiana Fever in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. Connecticut holds a 1-0 lead after winning Game 1 on Sunday, 93-69. They will meet again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.