How's that New Year's resolution going? That new diet you were going to start during Lent? How about that exercise plan you were going to start in May to get that new beach body? It's the first day of August, I'm going to start today! We know, we know. Things came up and life just happened to get in the way. Well what if life wasn't an excuse anymore. What if you were thrown a loop and life was taken away? What if you no longer had a heart? a pulse?
All of your trivial excuses will seem invalid after hearing Andrew Jones' story. Happy Monday.
A bodybuilder who suffered heart failure was rushed to hospital for a transplant – and now has an artificial heart he carries around in a backpack.
Andrew Jones, from Conneticut, first became unwell in 2012 after struggling to breathe during a run. He was horrified when two years later he started to cough up blood and developed a high fever. In hospital, doctors diagnosed the 26-year-old with cardiomyopathy – a hereditary disease of the heart muscle – and soon he became so weak he couldn't stand, walk or dress himself.
A few months later, medics told if he didn't have a transplant immediately he would die.
As there were no organs available, he was fitted with a pacemaker and an artificial heart – which he now carries around in a bag on his back. Despite his brush with death, he is now back to the gym and said he cries after workouts as he feels so 'thankful to be alive'.Recalling suffering from heart failure, Mr Jones said: 'It's something I would never want to wish upon my worst enemy. 'You can't breathe, you can't think, you don't eat and you don't sleep. He continued: 'Living with this disease put me in a pattern with depression and physical pain.
'I had to stop working because I wouldn't be able to stand for more than 10 minutes.
'I dreaded going to the kitchen because that meant that I had to go up and down my stairs.
'I couldn't even get dressed without panting and gasping for air – my life was falling apart and I just wanted relief.'Mr Jones was devastated when his condition left him to weak to walk, let alone lift weights.
But since having the artificial heart implanted he has slowly recovered and is now back to training in the gym. – damnbro.co
Here's a video of Andrew sharing his personal story with us.
'Today, thanks to my medical devices, I feel like a new person. 'I am almost back to the old Andrew that was able to train with passion and intensity. I do everything I can without compromising my health and the security of my devices.'
Mr Jones even launched his own charity, Hearts at Large, to raise awareness for organ donations and has over 14,000 followers on his Instagram, @FitnessWithAJ. Grateful to be alive, he now breaks down in tears at the gym as he is so happy he is still able to train. He said: 'I always loved working out and staying in shape, but I never actually took the time to be thankful to even have the ability to do so.
'Now I end my workouts almost in tears because I am still alive and I feel amazing.'- damnbro.co
Thanks for your inspirational story Andrew. We often do throw in the towel too quickly, too easily. We wish you the best for the future and hope you receive your transplant soon. Here are some pics of Andrew in the hospital followed by some great inspirational pics of his body building success, all without a pulse.
h/t: damnbro.co for text and pics
nojae for video