Pride defender Toni Pressley is recovering following breast cancer surgery on Friday in Orlando, Fla., and receiving stadium-sized support from fans, friends and even rival teams like the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns.
But the most heartwarming message was posted Sunday evening on Instagram by Marta, her girlfriend and Orlando Pride teammate, as well as Brazilian national team forward.
Here is what Marta wrote in her post, translated from Portuguese:
“Thank you my lord for the friends,
Friendship is a fragrant flower,
To have friends is to feel infinity
Without friends you can’t walk.”
The team announced Pressley’s diagnosis Wednesday, as she began treatment, ProSoccerUSA reported.
“We can’t imagine what Toni is going through,” Pride general manager Erik Ustruck said. “On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to extend our unconditional support to Toni, her family and the members of our Orlando Pride family throughout the entirety of the treatment process. Toni’s health and well-being is, of course, our biggest priority. We are happy to be able to provide her with the full backing of the Club, the NWSL and our partners at Orlando Health.”
Pressley, 29, was placed on the 45 day disabled list and will remain so during her treatment. She thanked supporters via social media. Here’s her tweet:
Thank you everyone for your well wishes.
— Toni Deion Pressley (@Toni_Deion) August 7, 2019
I feel incredibly lucky to have the support of my club, teammates, our supporters, and my loved ones.
I am in good hands at @orlandohealth
I will be back soon 💜💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/nHluikEx0F
And a longer message via Instagram:
Rival teams sent their good wishes as well.
Thank you @TheNCCourage for thinking of me 💕 I’m so grateful pic.twitter.com/ECNgLHkV0s
— Toni Deion Pressley (@Toni_Deion) August 11, 2019
Always classy, @ThornsFC head coach @mparsons_1 ends his postgame press conference with a special get well message for @Toni_Deion. 🙏 @ORLPride @NWSL #BAONPDX #BiggerThanSoccer pic.twitter.com/r6EhgFRDw1
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) August 11, 2019
And her own team — which is sponsored by Orlando Health, where Pressley is receiving treatment — showed its support Sunday as well.
#BiggerThanSoccer pic.twitter.com/zMh4WBHZN9
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 11, 2019
Of course, her fans around the world are pulling for Pressley, too.
Hermoso el gesto de North Carolina Courage con Toni Pressley 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#NWSL
— ➡️Rose 👑⬅️ (@queenheath1992) August 11, 2019
Thinking of Pressley during this match and hoping she has a speedy and smooth recovery♥️ #ORLvHOU #NWSL
— Arpita Venkatesh 🏳️🌈 (@orcalover93) August 10, 2019
We at Outsports wish Toni a complete and swift recovery! Send your own best wishes to Toni Pressley via her Twitter or Instagram accounts.