Thomas Wilson is one of the most beloved pros on tour.

His positive attitude and kindness - both on and off the court - has endeared him to his fellow players and fans.

In December 2023, Wilson opened up about being diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a chronic condition that causes an extra electrical pathway in the heart that leads to an abnormally fast heartbeat.

After undergoing surgery to repair the problem, things were looking promising, especially after his baby girl, Holyn, joined the family via adoption.  

Come the 2024 pickeball campaign, Wilson earned some victories early, but he began withdrawing from tournaments in June due to medical issues.

After laying low for several months, Wilson shared a health update on Thursday.

“I was having trouble breathing and shortness of breath that got progressively worse in the coming weeks. Muscle twitching to the point where I couldn’t work out or train anymore,” he explained. “The lowest point was when I was laying on the couch all day every day trying to catch my breath. I’m air hungry. Beyond terrifying and miserable.” 

Wilson was hospitalized for several weeks in a few different hospitals in Austin and San Antonio, TX.

Doctors knew something was wrong, but couldn’t figure out what. 

He was eventually transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona in hopes of finally getting some answers.

“Initially some scary stuff was thrown around. We got some potential diagnoses that were hard to hear. Needless to say, we were having some pretty tough conversations as a family, not knowing how much longer things would go. It’s been a tough road to say the least,” shared Wilson. “Fast forward to now, I’m with the Mayo Clinic and something is inflaming my lungs and muscles and we don’t know what it is, which has been beyond frustrating. I want to get back to my life. I want to get back on tour. I really miss being on tour. I miss my friends, my family, traveling with my family, fans, everybody.”

So, what's next?

Wilson will travel to National Jewish Health located in Denver in the coming weeks to meet with respiratory specialists.

“We’re really praying and hoping that we get to the bottom of this. I’m not as bad as I was at the beginning of this where I didn’t know if I would wake up the next day and be able to breathe. But, I’m stable enough to where I can get through my day without doing anything active,” he explained. “If I do, my muscles get inflamed again, and then I have trouble breathing for the next several days. I’m very hopeful we’re going to find answers here this next month.”

Mostly, though, Wilson emphasized how much he misses playing America's fastest-growing sport on a regular basis. 

“I desperately miss life on tour. I miss regular life and being around all the people I care about and who care about me. I’m so thankful for everyone who’s reached out. It’s meant a lot,” he said. “You never expect you’re going to encounter something like this in life, and everybody has been so supportive and understanding. I’m hoping for some good news, hoping for a path forward, hoping to get back out there with Viv and all my other partners.”

After seeing the video message, Wilson's fellow pros quickly shared their support, love, and prayers in return.

Pickleball is truly a family.