A pregnant influencer is opening up about a terrifying medical ordeal.
Leah Jay, a content creator who lives in Austin, Texas, revealed that she went to doctors to remove a blood clot in her leg before learning that she needed major surgery — during which her heart would be stopped for 80 minutes.
“What started as leg surgery to remove a blood clot turned into a transfer to Austin’s top heart surgery hospital. In the last 7 days, doctors discovered a strep infection in my blood that created a large bacterial growth on my mitral valve. That valve now needs to be removed and replaced,” she wrote on Saturday, January 31, alongside photos of herself in a hospital bed.
Jay’s husband, Michael Ramsey, was by her side after an update of his own via Instagram on January 28, noting there were “significant risks for the baby,” but that “Leah is our main priority right now.”
The expectant social media star went under the knife for four to six hours on the morning of Monday, February 2, according to her Instagram post.
“I’ve been surrounded by an army of specialists working together to keep me here: vascular surgeons, rheumatology, infectious disease, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and fetal medicine — just to name a few,” she wrote.
Jay said she was feeling uplifted after seeing their baby girl on the ultrasound, describing it as the “highlight of my week.”
“The little heartbeat and tiny movements gave me the strength I needed,” she continued, before giving a special shout-out to her “incredible” mother-in-law and sister-in-law “who dropped everything” to be there in her time of need.
She added, “Every message I read from friends, family and strangers warms my heart and I appreciate everyone. I love you ALL!”
The couple welcomed their first child, 3-year-old Reeves Ramsey, in July 2022, and announced they got married in August 2024. Ramsey and Jay have since revealed baby No. 2 is due in July 2026.
In his January 28 post, Ramsay suggested that doctors were expecting for Jay to have a smooth recovery and that she could be out of the hospital within four to five days of her procedure. “Leah is doing well all things considered, taking each step in her stride and being brave through the process,” he added.
On February 2, Ramsey shared that his wife’s “surgery went really well” via Instagram Stories.
“She has a new valve and is showing positive signs her heart is strong,” he continued, noting that Jay’s infection had spread to the muscle tissue below the valve. Fortunately, surgeons “managed to remove all of it safely.”
Fans were overjoyed when he shared on February 3 that their baby was “doing well” after the operation, alongside a pair of ultrasound photos.
As many social media users sent their well wishes to the pair, Jay admitted on February 4 that she was in “an incredible amount of pain.”
“Covered in tubes,” she shared. “All I want to do is walk and stand up but physically my blood clot leg won’t let me add any pressure.”
