A New York Metropolis dad who suffered sudden coronary heart failure and practically misplaced his life is sharing his story of survival after a profitable coronary heart transplant, encouraging all males to “go to the physician instantly when you really feel like one thing’s off — life is simply too treasured to take a seat idly by.”
Andre Rodrigues was a 40-year-old CrossFit-loving health buff and college principal having fun with summer season trip when one thing all of the sudden went terribly unsuitable.
The daddy of two was together with his youngsters in his native Portugal in August 2023 when he skilled alarming flu-like signs he had by no means felt earlier than.
“I simply felt very sick — I by no means coughed as violently — it harm,” Rodrigues, now 42, advised The Publish.
At five-foot-11 and 175 kilos, Rodrigues ought to have been the portrait of well being within the prime of his life — a clear eater who took pleasure in exercising with an at-home rower. However he turned a shell of himself as months glided by with out one good day.
“It was surprising — there was no warning,” he stated. “It got here on quick and livid.”
He sought solutions from six completely different medical doctors “to attempt to unravel what was taking place.”
However the array of antibiotics and nasal sprays for a analysis of pneumonia and an higher respiratory an infection didn’t minimize down the signs.
The bodily change was dramatic as he hit 190 kilos because of the fluid retention.
“What I observed was fully irregular,” stated Rodrigues, including that discovering the looks of abnormally swollen ankles made him concern it was a coronary heart subject.
After two months of mysterious signs — together with fixed shortness of breath and exhaustion — Rodriguez darted for the Mount Sinai ER, the place he stayed for 12 days.
As a substitute of a chilly or respiratory virus, he realized that it was extreme coronary heart failure.
“There have been plenty of actually scary nights within the hospital,” he stated, including that “not seeing my youngsters develop up was my worst thought. It’s nonetheless my worst thought and concern.”
He stated it was myocarditis, a situation more and more related to younger males and the Covid shot, which led to his coronary heart failure.
“The reason for the myocarditis is unknown,” he added.
Since he had no household historical past of it and “genetic testing cleared me of [anything],” the doting dad felt grateful that he wouldn’t cross it all the way down to his son and daughter, ages 9 and 11.
HIs coronary heart was performing at 10%.
“The time period they use is end-stage coronary heart failure,” he stated, noting that the conventional fee is 50% or greater.
However below the care of Mount Sinai’s Dr. Anuradha Lala, he tried quite a lot of drugs geared toward bettering perform of the guts and minimizing the speed at which his coronary heart was deteriorating.
Although genetic testing yielded ”no genetic foundation” for his situation, the physician advised The Publish. “We don’t know the precise purpose that Andre had coronary heart failure. However to me, his journey is about recognizing signs, understanding when to ask for assist, attuning your thoughts to your physique and coming to phrases with being sick.”
“Constructing belief and a private connection is so important — particularly for youthful people, who may need to run away from the problem,” added Dr. Lala, Superior Coronary heart Failure and Transplant Heart specialist on the Mount Sinai Fuster Coronary heart Hospital.
He labored carefully together with his group, had common blood work and numerous assessments accomplished below therapeutic care, however there was no enchancment. Different organs, together with kidney and liver, have been affected as a result of they weren’t getting sufficient wholesome oxygenated blood.
Surviving for his youngsters was his largest motivation. “I used to be motivated to play soccer with them once more and run round with them and so they stored me actually motivated” to get via this ordeal, he stated.
However by the autumn of 2024, he wanted to pivot.
“My coronary heart couldn’t bounce again and I wanted to be placed on the transplant listing” whereas in Mount Sinai’s ICU and an impella was used to assist his left ventricle pump.
Beneath the care of a group that included cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Anelechi Anyanwu, Rodrigues matched with a viable coronary heart and underwent a profitable eight-hour surgical procedure in late October.
Again at his Museum Faculty in Chelsea, Manhattan, employees and college students despatched lots of of emails and letters of assist for the fourth-year principal, who pressured himself to let go of his fears and put his full religion in his group.
Although he doesn’t know a lot about his donor, he’s grateful for the “reward” that gave him life.
By early January, Rodrigues was able to return to his beloved college, the place employees and college students lined the hallways to welcome him again.
“It’s a beautiful neighborhood the place college students present a lot empathy — in direction of each other and to me,” he stated of the emotional reunion.
The long run stays brilliant for Rodrigues, who famous life shall be completely different “but in addition lovely on the identical time.”
And, sure, that features CrossFit in his future.
“The highway continues to be lengthy, however nothing in comparison with what he was on,” added Dr. Lala, who urged the general public to not write off something that feels worrisome. “The intention isn’t to advertise concern, however to instill consciousness, round signs that ought to immediate additional analysis.”
Rodrigues’ message to others is to hunt medical assist if one thing feels off.
“That is your life. That is your life and life is simply too treasured to take a seat idly and never have a correct analysis. And even when the analysis is frightening, belief the medical professionals and transfer ahead with braveness.
“Have a optimistic mindset and belief the medical professionals. Preserve advocating for your self and your well being.”
