'Devastated My Body': Powerlifter and D...

A father and powerlifter is sharing how he nearly lost his life when his “mild cold” turned into a rare and deadly disease

Published Time: 01.06.2024 - 00:31:05 Modified Time: 01.06.2024 - 00:31:05

A father and powerlifter is sharing how he nearly lost his life when his “mild cold” turned into a rare and deadly disease.

In January 2023, Jared Maynard from Ontario, Canada, caught a "mild cold," as did his wife and three daughters, But while his family recovered within a week, Maynard’s condition got worse. He described it as “the beginning of a nightmare.”

“I got insomnia so bad that I was grateful to drift off for an hour at most each night,” the 33-year-old recalled on Instagram.⁠ “The lymph nodes in my neck swelled up so much that it felt like a mini mountain range under my skin.⁠ Wildly swinging fever and chills. My heart raced and my blood pressure rocketed.⁠”

After going to a small local hospital, Maynard was given sleep medicine and diagnosed with mononucleosis — also often called “the kissing disease” — which is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.

Maynard returned home but his health continued to deteriorate. He decided to seek additional help when he became “delirious” and his wife noticed his skin turning yellow. He returned to the hospital and learned, after additional testing, that his cold virus had triggered a rare disease that was causing his liver and kidneys to stop functioning.

Maynard was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and potentially fatal disorder where the immune system abnormally overreacts and no longer works properly, according to the Cleveland Clinic. White blood cells that fight infections end up damaging parts of the body, such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. This can lead to organ damage and even death if left untreated.

There are two types of the HLH, one that is triggered by genetics and one that is triggered by an infection.

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After six days in the hospital, doctors put Maynard on life support, which he stayed on for five weeks.

“My fight had begun,” he said, adding that HLH “devastated my body” and doctors didn’t believe he’d survive.

“Once I woke up in the ICU, I knew there was a long, long road ahead of me,” he told his followers. “But I still had some fight left. I had a reason to fight, too. My wife and daughters needed me to come home.”

Maynard was put on a ventilator and dialysis, remaining in the hospital for three and a half months. During that time, he lost over -

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40 lbs. and had to relearn how to stand, walk, talk and eat.

“I was a shell of the man I used to be, at least physically,” he said. “HLH ravaged my body. Weeks on life support and being too sick to eat left me 40 lbs lighter and struggling to hold my phone up on my own.⁠ As a powerlifter, it felt like I’d been completely body-swapped.⁠”

But doctors said Maynard made massive strides by March 2023 and attributed his recovery to being physically fit before the illness. He shared a video on social media taking his first steps in the hospital.

“I felt like Superman,” he recalled. “I’d only walked about 20 feet.⁠ But a couple weeks before, I could only walk about 4 feet before gassing out.⁠ But 4 feet turned into 20. 20 feet turned into laps around the unit. Laps turned into stair climbing.⁠”

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Maynard recovered well and was able to leave the hospital in May 2023. A month later he was back lifting weights. Despite still having some health problems, he vowed to get his strength back.

“I walked into the hospital as a strong but sick 193 lb. powerlifter. I was wheeled out of the hospital as a small and sick 155 lb man. I also left with the nickname ‘Miracle Man’ from some of the doctors and nurses who saw me at my worst in the ICU,” he explained. “I’m more grateful than ever to be alive and on the mend.”

“My journey isn’t over. There are more obstacles ahead… but I’m ready to keep fighting,” he continued.

Now, a year later, Maynard competed in his first powerlifting competition since his HLH diagnosis on May 25. He’s hoping people are inspired by his recovery journey.

“I’m grateful beyond words to everyone who’s helped me in the journey so far,” he said. “I’m rebuilding my body and my strength every day. I’ve made it back to my family. I’m with my people. I don’t know what you’re going through right now. I’ll bet it’s hard, though. I’ll bet there are days where you want to quit. You’re not alone. Take the next smallest step you can today. And then tomorrow. You can do this.”