Hellas Verona midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has revealed how his family stood by him in prayers after he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in August.
The 28-year-old was he was rushed to the hospital during pre-season training with his new club after he was diagnosed with the illness.
According to Agyemang-Badu, the illness left his family, particularly his mother back in Ghana worrying about him.
"My family were sad and panicking once the news started flying in that I had been rushed to the hospital," he said.
"The timing and everything was a bit weird because I had just returned from my summer holidays (in Ghana) and they have seen that I was well.
"I heard they started praying for me and it was not until they heard from me and I explained that I was out of intensive care were they able to relax in a small way."
He joined Hellas Verona from Udinese on a season-long loan deal this summer.