What Happened to Lauren Holiday? Did Lauren Holiday Have Brain Tumor?
by Sooryaprakash D | Updated Jul 13, 2023
Who is Lauren Holiday?
Lauren Holiday, originally known as Lauren Cheney, is a former American professional soccer player who made a significant impact in the world of women's soccer. Born on September 30, 1987, she played as a midfielder and forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 2007 to 2015. Throughout her career, she showcased remarkable skills and achieved great success, becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a FIFA Women's World Cup champion.
Holiday's contributions to the sport extended beyond the national team as she played professionally for FC Kansas City in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Boston Breakers in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She also displayed her talents in college soccer, representing the UCLA Bruins during her collegiate years.
Her accolades speak volumes about her abilities and dedication to the sport. Holiday was part of the U.S. national team that clinched gold at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Canada.
She also played a crucial role in the team's journey to the final of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they finished as runners-up. Holiday's exceptional performances earned her recognition as one of the tournament's All-Star players.
Not only was she recognized for her individual accomplishments, but she also received prestigious awards from U.S. Soccer. In 2007, she was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year, and in 2014, she earned the title of U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year.
Her contributions to the sport were further acknowledged when her jersey was retired by FC Kansas City, making her the first player in NWSL history to receive such an honor after retiring from the league. Lauren Holiday's legacy as a talented and accomplished soccer player continues to inspire future generations.
Full Name
Lauren Nicole Holiday
Birth Date
September 30, 1987
Birth Place
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Nationality
American
Age
35 years old
Profession
National Soccer Player
Husband Name
Jrue Holiday
Net Worth
$1.5 Million
What Happened to Lauren Holiday?
Lauren Holiday, the wife of Jrue Holiday, faced a challenging health situation in 2016. She was diagnosed with meningioma, a type of brain tumor, in June of that year. This diagnosis came after she had been experiencing severe headaches, leading her to undergo an MRI. The results revealed the presence of the tumor, which caused her debilitating head pains.
Complicating matters further, Lauren was pregnant with her and Jrue's son, Jrue Tyler Holiday, at the time of her diagnosis. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, the couple remained strong. Lauren gave birth to their son in September, and a month later, she underwent surgery to remove the brain tumor. Fortunately, the timing allowed Jrue, who was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at the time, to be by her side throughout the process.
Jrue Holiday took a leave of absence from basketball to care for his wife during her recovery. The New Orleans Pelicans were in the offseason during the later part of Lauren's pregnancy and delivery, which allowed Jrue to prioritize her well-being. He opted to forego the start of the regular season to ensure that he could be there for his wife during her surgery and subsequent healing.
Following the operation, Lauren faced a challenging and transformative journey. She shared her experiences and emotions through heartfelt messages on social media. In May 2017, seven months after the surgery, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram, marking a significant milestone in her recovery.
Lauren's strength and resilience during this difficult time were commendable. Both she and Jrue Holiday emerged from the experience with even stronger bonds and a heightened commitment to making a positive impact.
They became influential figures in their community and were recognized for their outstanding support of Black-owned small businesses and non-profit organizations, receiving the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the ESPYs.
Despite the hardships they faced, the Holidays demonstrated courage, resilience, and a deep love for one another. Their story serves as an inspiration to many, highlighting the power of love, support, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Did Lauren Holiday Have Brain Tumor?
Yes, Lauren Holiday, the wife of Jrue Holiday, did indeed have a brain tumor. In 2016, she was diagnosed with meningioma, a type of brain tumor. The diagnosis came after she experienced severe headaches and underwent testing, including an MRI, which revealed the presence of the tumor.
Lauren underwent surgery in October 2016 to remove the benign brain tumor. During this time, Jrue Holiday, who was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at the time, took a break of approximately one month to support his wife and be by her side as she went through the surgery and subsequent recovery.
It was a challenging time for the couple, especially considering that Lauren was also pregnant with their son, Jrue Tyler Holiday, at the time. Despite the difficulties, they faced the situation together, and Jrue provided unwavering care and support to his wife during her battle with the brain tumor.
Lauren Holiday Early Life
Lauren Holiday, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, was introduced to the world of soccer during her childhood. Inspired by her brother's involvement in the sport, she began playing at a young age and even joined boys' teams until she turned 12.
Her talents quickly became evident as she attended Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. In 2004–05, she was recognized as the school's most valuable offensive player and received the esteemed Metro Player of the Year award from the Indianapolis Star in 2004.
Her exceptional abilities continued to shine in 2006 when she earned various honors, including being named a Parade All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year, and receiving multiple regional awards. Moreover, she was distinguished as the Indianapolis Star Super Team Player of the Year.
Throughout her high school career, Holiday's impressive performances and achievements were amassed, culminating in a remarkable record of 118 goals scored and 67 assists served. In pursuit of her soccer dreams, she graduated early in 2006 to focus on training with the United States U-20 women's national soccer team for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Following her successful high school journey, Holiday continued her soccer career at UCLA, where she made an immediate impact. Enrolling in 2006, she quickly established herself as a standout player. Her outstanding skills earned her recognition as a first-team All-American and the NSCAA Freshman of the Year.
Leading the Pac-10 Conference with 19 goals, she not only set a new freshman record at UCLA but also displayed her remarkable goalscoring abilities with a goals-per-game percentage of .95.
Her exceptional performances continued in her sophomore year, where she was a finalist for the Pac-10 Player of the Year and finished as the runner-up for the women's Hermann Trophy.
Once again, she topped the conference in goals scored, netting an impressive 23 goals and breaking UCLA's single-season school records for points (57) and goals (23). Holiday's consistent excellence and impact on the field led to her earning NSCAA/Adidas First-Team All-America honors throughout her entire four-year collegiate career, becoming the first player in UCLA history to achieve this remarkable feat.
She left a lasting legacy, setting records for points (173) and game-winning goals (28) at UCLA, while also tying the career school record for goals with 71. Additionally, she contributed 31 career assists, solidifying her place in the record books. Holiday's time at UCLA was marked not only by her individual accomplishments but also by her pivotal role in guiding the Bruins to consecutive NCAA College Cups.
What Happened to Lauren Holiday? - FAQs
Yes, she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor called meningioma in 2016.
Jrue Holiday took time off from his basketball career to support and care for Lauren during her pregnancy and recovery from brain tumor surgery.
Yes, she played as a midfielder and forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 2007 to 2015.
She was part of the team that won two Olympic gold medals and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015. She also helped the team finish as runners-up in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Lauren Holiday is currently 35 years old.