Recovery to Resilience: Minestrella’s Journey Back to the Field

DURHAM, N.C.-- Mia Minestrella's road to recovery hasn't been an easy one, marked by a serious medical condition that could have sidelined her permanently.

But her story is one of incredible resilience, perseverance, and the determination to not just return to the game she loves but to thrive in it once again.

In the spring of 2023, just after her senior year of high school, Minestrella underwent a life-changing surgery that removed 72 centimeters of her intestine.

For months, she had been experiencing mysterious stomach issues -- discomfort, difficulty digesting food, unexplained weight fluctuations -- and despite her best efforts, no one could figure out exactly what was wrong.
Mia Minestrella

"No one really knew what was going on, I wasn't digesting my food properly or eating food properly and I was holding a lot of water weight. I was heavier than I normally was and no one knew what was going on when I came to Duke in the summer, my freshman year, I had to go to the hospital because my intestine started to twist," Minestrella recalls. "I think it was hard for everyone to kind of wrap their heads around it, just because I didn't really know what was going on."

At the time, Minestrella had been training with Angel City with her dreams of collegiate and professional soccer ahead of her.

But the surgery set her back in more ways than one.

She wasn't just recovering from a procedure; she was trying to regain a sense of normalcy in her own body, something that eluded her for nearly two years.

"I lost 20 pounds in a week. So, I had to get that back," she explained. "I had to start walking again. I had to get comfortable jogging and then running, and then being able to fully stretch because there was a big scar on my stomach. It made my process longer, I was trying to figure those things out again, and then the eating, and then the training and all that like, that kind of just was kind of put on the back burner for a while, which I think affected how I did last year.,"

The recovery was especially challenging because the doctors didn't have much precedent to work with.

Most patients who undergo this type of surgery are elderly, so they couldn't offer Minestrella a comprehensive recovery plan. Instead, she was told she could gradually return to normal activity after four weeks, leaving her to figure out the process largely on her own.

Her freshman year was tough. Minestrella felt disconnected from her usual form, and as she tried to find her footing, both physically and mentally, the pressures of being a student-athlete added to the challenge.

Arriving at college in the summer of 2023, Minestrella found herself not only adjusting to a new environment, but also dealing with the aftereffects of her surgery.

Her body still wasn't digesting food properly, and she carried a heaviness that wasn't just physical.

"It was really frustrating for a lot of different reasons. My body didn't feel like my own, I wasn't fit and there was no way for me to really get fit because I was trying to build back three months to four months of what I just missed, and then had to come straight here and just kind of be expected to be super fit. Then being a freshman, just trying to just prove myself and knowing that this is not me through the way I'm playing, that's not me, and it was just frustrating trying to gain confidence from that. So, I feel like the little things that kind of just trickled down into soccer."

As a rookie, Minestrella played 16 matches, including two starts. A scorer her entire life, was held without a goal and had two assists over 591 minutes.

Despite the physical and emotional setbacks, Minestrella pushed through the 2023 season.

It wasn't until the summer of 2024 that she finally started to feel like herself again. She had switched to a new diet and found medications that helped her body heal, allowing her to regain her strength and confidence.

"Preseason helped me find the joy in soccer again, not that I wasn't happy playing soccer last year, but I just feel like there's a lot of other factors that kind of took the happiness away from soccer, especially not feeling like myself and obviously the season we had. But coming in, having a normal preseason and having fun and just being happy and doing what I came here to do is score goals and play with the team and hopefully accomplish big things as the season goes on. It's just been so much fun and just so refreshing."

Since then, Minestrella's been on a scoring tear, with seven goals under her belt. The Redondo Beach, Calif., product put the first one in the back of the net at Nebraska and then recorded her first collegiate brace against Missouri. In ACC action, Minestrella has been even better with four goals and three assists.

Her connection with her roommate, Mia Oliaro, has assisted on many of those goals and only added to the magic of her comeback.

"We call ourselves 'Mia-Squared', and now it just has trickled down into the social media and just how everyone refers to us," Minestrella laughs. "I think it's so cool that she's come in and made a huge impact on the team and has been creating so many goals, not just for me, but for other people. I think that she's a key piece to our team and to our success this year. It's so cool that my roommate can assist a lot of my goals, it's just fun for us and awesome that we can just do it together."

76' | MIA SQUARED!!!!!!! ??

???? 3, ?? 0 | ?? B1G+ pic.twitter.com/bXxu0UO2qV
— Duke Women's Soccer (@DukeWSOC) August 23, 2024

At No. 2 Wake Forest, Minestrella had the opportunity to assist on one of Oliaro's goals as well, which was the game-winner to clinch the ACC Regular Season title for the Blue Devils. Minestrella also earned her first start of the 2024 season on the road in front of a record crowd at Spry Stadium.
Mia Minestrella, Mia Oliaro

Her relentless hard work and dedication to come back stronger and better did not go unnoticed. head coach Robbie Church commended her resilience, noting how her skills contribute to the team's success.

"Mia (Minestrella) has done such a fantastic job for us this year and in any situation that we put her in, she has come off the bench, and she just provided instant offense for us," explained Church. "She holds the ball up well. She's able to connect the next pass either the midfield underneath her or to a wide player, she's deadly in the box. You have to give all the credit to Mia. She has worked extremely hard."

Minestrella's return to form has been a testament to her resilience. Each goal she scores, each step she takes on the field, is a reminder of how far she's come and as the season progresses, Minestrella's role on the team continues to grow.

Whether she's coming off the bench or starting, she knows her contribution is valuable, and she thrives on the teamwork and support around her.

Her story is more than just about a return from injury -- it's about finding strength in adversity, trusting the process, and rediscovering the love for the game.

Her journey may have been unexpected, but it's shaped her into the player and person she is today.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".

Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu

#GoDuke