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CrossFit-loving Dad, 42, Gets Transplant After Flu-like Symptoms Turn Out To Be End-stage Heart Failure
A New York City dad who suffered sudden heart failure and nearly lost his life is sharing his story of survival after a successful heart transplant, encouraging all men to "go to the doctor right away if you feel like something's off — life is too precious to sit idly by."
Andre Rodrigues was a 40-year-old CrossFit-loving fitness buff and school principal enjoying summer vacation when something suddenly went terribly wrong.
Andre Rodrigues was super fit and did CrossFit when he developed a life-threatening heart condition. Shaun Cleary @supercleary/instagramThe father of two was with his kids in his native Portugal in August 2023 when he experienced alarming flu-like symptoms he had never felt before.
"I just felt very sick — I never coughed as violently — it hurt," Rodrigues, now 42, told The Post.
Rodrigues' flu-like symptoms turned out to be signs of heart failure. Andre RodriguesAt 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Rodrigues should have been the portrait of health in the prime of his life — a clean eater who took pride in exercising with an at-home rower. But he became a shell of himself as months went by without one good day.
"It was shocking — there was no warning," he said. "It came on fast and furious."
He sought answers from six different doctors "to try to get to the bottom of what was happening."
But the array of antibiotics and nasal sprays for a diagnosis of pneumonia and an upper respiratory infection didn't cut down the symptoms.
The physical change was dramatic as he hit 190 pounds due to the fluid retention.
"What I noticed was completely abnormal," said Rodrigues, adding that discovering the appearance of abnormally swollen ankles made him fear it was a heart issue.
After two months of mysterious symptoms — including constant shortness of breath and exhaustion — Rodriguez darted for the Mount Sinai ER, where he stayed for 12 days.
Instead of a cold or respiratory virus, he learned that it was severe heart failure.
Rodrigues was a a clean eater who took pride in exercising with an at-home rower when he got sick. Andre Rodrigues"There were a lot of really scary nights in the hospital," he said, adding that "not seeing my kids grow up was my worst thought. It's still my worst thought and fear."
He said it was myocarditis, a condition increasingly associated with young males and the COVID shot, which led to his heart failure.
"The cause of the myocarditis is unknown," he added.
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Since he had no family history of it and "genetic testing cleared me of [anything]," the doting dad felt grateful that he wouldn't pass it down to his son and daughter, ages 9 and 11.
HIs heart was functioning at 10%.
"The term they use is end-stage heart failure," he said, noting that the normal rate is 50% or higher.
But under the care of Mount Sinai's Dr. Anuradha Lala, he tried a variety of medications aimed at improving function of the heart and minimizing the rate at which his heart was deteriorating.
He learned he was in end-stage heart failure, with his heart functioning at just 10%. Andre RodriguesThough genetic testing yielded "no genetic basis" for his condition, the doctor told The Post. "We don't know the exact reason that Andre had heart failure. But to me, his journey is about recognizing symptoms, knowing when to ask for help, attuning your mind to your body and coming to terms with being sick."
"Building trust and a personal connection is so critical — especially for younger folks, who may just want to run away from the issue," added Lala, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital.
He worked closely with his team, had regular blood work and various tests done under therapeutic care, but there was no improvement. Other organs, including kidney and liver, were affected because they weren't getting enough healthy oxygenated blood.
Surviving for his kids was his biggest motivation. "I was motivated to play soccer with them again and run around with them and they kept me really motivated" to get through this ordeal, he said.
But by the fall of 2024, he needed to pivot.
He had no family history of it and "genetic testing cleared me of [anything]." He was at lead glad he wouldn't pass it down to his son and daughter, ages 9 and 11. Andre Rodrigues"My heart could not bounce back and I needed to be put on the transplant list" while in Mount Sinai's ICU and an impella was used to help his left ventricle pump.
Under the care of a team that included cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Anelechi Anyanwu, Rodrigues matched with a viable heart and underwent a successful eight-hour surgery in late October.
Back at his Museum School in Chelsea, Manhattan, staff and students sent hundreds of emails and letters of support for the fourth-year principal, who forced himself to let go of his fears and put his complete faith in his team.
Though he doesn't know much about his donor, he's grateful for the "gift" that gave him life.
By early January, Rodrigues was ready to return to his beloved school, where staff and students lined the hallways to welcome him back.
"It's a wonderful community where students show so much empathy — toward one another and to me," he said of the emotional reunion.
Rodrigues was ready this January to return to his beloved school, where he is the principal. Staff and students lined the hallways to welcome him back. Andre RodriguesThe future remains bright for Rodrigues, who noted life will be different "but also beautiful at the same time."
And, yes, that includes CrossFit in his future.
"The road is still long, but nothing compared to what he was on," added Dr. Lala, who urged the public not to write off anything that feels worrisome. "The intention isn't to promote fear, but to instill awareness, around symptoms that should prompt further evaluation."
Rodrigues' message to others is to seek medical help if something feels off.
"This is your life. This is your life and life is too precious to sit idly and not have a proper diagnosis. And even when the diagnosis is scary, trust the medical professionals and move forward with courage.
"Have a positive mindset and trust the medical professionals. Keep advocating for yourself and your health."
Yale Scientists Link Covid Vaccines To Alarming New Syndrome With Long-Term Effects
Experts from Yale University have uncovered a new, concerning condition linked to the COVID-19 vaccines. Dubbed "Post-Vaccination Syndrome" (PVS), it not only comes with a host of uncomfortable symptoms—but it also causes persistent biological changes years after injection.
Not only that, the scientists also identified a troubling connection between PVS and the reactivation of a virus known as Epstein-Barr, a dormant agent that resides in most people and causes flu-like symptoms.
"This work is still in its early stages, and we need to validate these findings," Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, the study's author, said. "But this is giving us some hope that there may be something that we can use to treat PVS down the road."
While the study has not been published in its entirety, its initial findings have been enough to scare and anger netizens.
"I can't believe they forced us to take the shot without fully understanding its long-term effects," one user wrote.
Scientists discovered a new syndrome linked to the COVID-19 vaccines that causes persistent biological changes and chronic flu-like symptomsGloved hands administering Covid vaccine into a person's arm.
Image credits: stock.Adobe (not the actual photo)
The findings are the result of research conducted on blood samples collected from 42 people diagnosed with the syndrome and comparing them to 22 control subjects who had the vaccine but had not experienced any post-jab symptoms.
The results showed that those with PVS had different proportions of immune cells compared to the control group, as well as elevated levels of COVID spike proteins years after being vaccinated.
Covid vaccines vials with blue caps and labels, focus on foreground vial.
Image credits: stock.Adobe (not the actual photo)
These proteins were also found in 134 subjects who contracted coronavirus and suffered from it for a long period of time.
The similarities didn't end there, however, as both groups showed a reactivated Epstein-Barr virus, meaning that patients with PVS were adversely affected by the vaccine and might continue to have their health compromised for years to come.
"That was surprising to find spike protein in circulation at such a late time point," Dr. Iwasaki said.
Patients suffering from PVS reported experiencing fever, dizziness, and brain fog years after receiving their coronavirus shotsPeople waiting in line as a healthcare worker gives a Covid vaccine to a seated woman.
Image credits: stock.Adobe (not the actual photo)
For many patients, the symptoms of PVS have been life-altering. Such is the case of 32-year-old Sascha Schwartz, a care worker from Germany, who has been fighting the symptoms of the syndrome ever since he was administered an AstraZeneca vaccine.
"I've never felt such stark helplessness and powerlessness as I have over the last two years. I feel trapped in my own body and have the feeling that I no longer exist," Schwartz said in an interview.
People with band-aids on arms after Covid vaccines.
Image credits: stock.Adobe (not the actual photo)
Fever, dizziness, and constant headaches became a part of his daily routine. The worst, he said, is a "brain fog" that makes it impossible for him to concentrate.
"You go on autopilot. It's like being drained of vitality. It's like you're in a stupor, where stimuli no longer register, and you feel electricity in your head," he shared.
Scientist in protective gear examining specimen in lab related to Covid vaccines and syndrome research.
Image credits: Mufid Majnun/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Making matters worse was the dismissal of several doctors who, according to him, swatted away his complaints as "psychosomatic," or the product of mental stress.
"It took me six months to find an immunologist who would take me and my complaints seriously," he recounted, remembering how doctors told him countless times: "This can't be; the vaccines are safe."
AstraZeneca was forced to formally admit that their vaccine could, in rare cases, trigger an illness that results in permanent brain damageBald man with a beard wearing earrings, neutral expression, against a dark background, discussing Covid vaccines.
Image credits: Sascha Black
The refusal to face the possibility that COVID vaccines came with long-lasting side effects for some people is nothing new for Kate Scott, the representative of a UK group called Vaccine Injured and Bereaved (VIBUK).
"We were pushed into the shadows during the pandemic," she told the BBC.
"We are an uncomfortable truth, but we are a truth and the truth is for everyone in our group—the vaccine caused serious harm and death."
Participants at Wolf Run event, muddy and smiling, against dark backdrop.
Image credits: Sky News
The mother-of-two took matters into her own hands after her husband, Jamie Scott, was left severely disabled by what was confirmed to be Vaccine-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT), causing permanent brain damage.
The Scott family sued AstraZeneca in August 2023, and, as a result, the pharmaceutical company was forced to admit in February 2024 that its COVID vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause VITT."
Patient in hospital gown with medical equipment, related to Covid vaccines and potential new syndrome discussion.
Image credits: Sky News
The Health Secretary of the United Kingdom, Wes Streeting, took notice of the matter and personally met with Kate, as well as two other women whose relatives were adversely affected by the vaccine, in September 2024.
Streeting is currently working on reforming the country's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), in order to better help those affected by the vaccine's side effects.
The study's authors urged doctors to not dismiss patient concerns and to listen to their experiences
Gloved hand holding a syringe, highlighting Covid vaccines.
Image credits: olia danilevich/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, the co-senior author of the Yale study and a professor of medicine at Yale, urged a cautious approach to interpreting the findings but acknowledged the severity of the challenges some individuals face after vaccination.
"It's clear that some individuals are experiencing significant challenges after vaccination," he mentioned. "Our responsibility as scientists and clinicians is to listen to their experiences, rigorously investigate the underlying causes, and seek ways to help."
Hand with IV line, representing Covid vaccines linked to new syndrome discovered by scientists.
Image credits: Anna Shvets/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
On the other hand, Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, spoke with the Daily Mail to defend the injections, emphasizing that they remain safe for the vast majority of people.
"The vaccines have been given to billions of people at this point, and there were large prospective placebo-controlled studies that didn't show these effects," he said.
As for the Yale study, the next stages involve understanding how widespread PVS truly is and identifying who might be most at risk.
While the paper is still in its infancy, its findings underscore the importance of further investigation into post-vaccination symptoms.
Netizens were left feeling powerless and angry and took to social media to share their experiencesA patient in a hospital bed, linked to discussion on Covid vaccines and new syndrome.
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
"My coworker's 28-year-old son has the heart of an eighty-year-old and cannot walk up more than five steps without stopping to rest for about 3-5 minutes to catch his breath," one user wrote.
"I'm a 72-year-old who runs 5K regularly without difficulty. My stamina has now gone since Covid. I struggle to run and get breathless and tired very easily. This has nothing to do with age," another shared.
"I got most of the above symptoms and my life has deteriorated so badly. I try most things to negate the damage, but who knows how much damage has actually been done?!" one reader said.
"Most of us already knew this, as evidence from independent studies showed this to be the case over and over again," another argued.
"But if anyone even dared to mention it to the media, they were called 'conspiracy theorists.'"
"Heartbreaking." People were shocked by the study's findings and sympathized with the suffering of patients with PVSComment expressing relief about COVID vaccines, feeling sympathy for those affected.
Comment expressing views on Covid vaccines, mentioning personal choice related to new syndrome concerns.
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Comment by Vivienne Percival criticizing Covid vaccines and employer mandates, labeling them as "evil and wicked".
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Comment from Mel Sowden expressing relief about not getting Covid vaccines; mentions job change without regret.
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Marian Frew's comment on COVID vaccines and syndrome findings, expressing delayed realization.
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Comment discussing absence of Covid and colds since 2019, possibly linked to vaccine effects.
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Comment by Nikkita Schneider discussing perspective on life, with a total of 103 reactions.
Text comment on vaccine study skepticism, emphasizing the lack of peer review.
Mickey Diamond's comment on Covid vaccines and new syndrome linked by scientists.
The post Yale Scientists Link Covid Vaccines To Alarming New Syndrome With Long-Term Effects first appeared on Bored Panda.
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