Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May owes more than just his career to baseball; he owes his life to his wife, Millie Trautner.
In a harrowing moment that unfolded on the evening of July 10, 2024, May found himself in a life-threatening situation when a casual dinner turned into a nightmare.
At the same time, enjoying a salad at home with Millie, a piece of lettuce lodged in his throat, tearing his esophagus.
What seemed like a freak accident soon escalated into a medical emergency that nearly cost him his life.
May said in a heartfelt interview,
“If I hadn’t gone to the hospital that night, I would not be here today. I definitely have to thank my wife for that, for saving my life. Because I definitely would not have gone if I had been by myself.”
Millie, quick to act despite May’s initial hesitation to seek help, insisted he go to the ER, a decision that proved crucial.
Emergency surgery followed, and doctors later told the couple that if they had waited just a few more hours, the outcome could’ve been fatal.
Millie recalled,
“The doctor told us, ‘You probably had about four more hours. I could have been a 27-year-old widow. That’s something no one expects to hear.”
A Wedding, A Scare, And An Unbreakable Bond
Dustin and Millie’s story began long before this terrifying incident.
The couple tied the knot on December 27, 2022, almost exactly two years after their romantic engagement in Costa Rica.
Millie, originally from Michigan, first met Dustin during his time in Low-A with the Great Lakes Loons, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
She has stood by his side through injuries, including not one but two Tommy John surgeries. But nothing could prepare them for the night that nearly changed everything.
Following the esophagus surgery, Millie stayed by his side in the ICU, sleeping on a hospital couch, waking every two hours as nurses checked his vitals, all while trying to shield herself from online jokes and insensitive comments about the incident.
She said,
“The general public was notified, but then there were jokes. That was hard for me to see while I was living this nightmare. Dustin hadn’t even seen his phone yet.”
A Renewed Perspective
May, who returned to the mound this year with a fresh mindset, said the experience helped reframe his life priorities.
May said,
“I feel great. Whether the results are good or bad, I’m going home in a good mood. The game was taken from me for so long, just being back out there is a blessing.”
Once burdened by the pressure of expectations and injury recovery, May says he now leans into faith, positivity, and perspective.
Now pitching for the Boston Red Sox after starting his MLB career with the Dodgers in 2019 and helping them win the World Series in 2020, May has emerged not just as a player but as a survivor.
At every game, Millie Trautner is in the stands, cheering him on, not just as a wife, but as the woman who saved his life.
