Does anyone have a comeback story?

AllOkJumpmaster · Mar 22, 2026

I have a really good friend, served in the Army with this guy for over 15 years. He was hit by a car from a drunk driver while training for an Ironman Triathlon. He has spent a year recovering from those injuries. Lost a ton of muscle, gained a decent amount of fat, and took a big hit to his mental health. This guy is and always will be a fucking stud, but right now he is down and out about how much he has lost. I know in my heart he will bounce back. We served in The Ranger Regiment together, and I know what he is capable of, but right now his mind is clouded by knowing what he was, and what is now.

I know he knows that I am in his corner for motivation and affirmation, but I was hoping maybe some inspiration from other stories of overcoming obstacles could help embolden his comeback push.

Thanks to anyone that is willing to contribute with theirs own personal stories. Sometimes seeing what others have also overcome can be extremely helpful.

iwantmass · Mar 22, 2026

I don't know that it is a great one, but I've had a series of bad health scares over the last 1 1/2 years. Showed up to work in December 2025 and felt terrible, puking, etc. I ended up having an appendectomy.

Within 6 months, there were concerns about my prostate, so we had a Turp to remove a majority of the prostate. 2 months after that, between being in a high clot state and having may thurner's syndrome which i had no clue I had/what is was at the time, I started experiencing painful symptoms on a Friday. I tried toughing it out and by the next Wednesday when I made it to the hospital, they said I almost died due to an +18" inch blood clot in my illiac.

I ended up spending 3 nights in icu and 2 in regular care to remove the blood clot from my illiac. They found a ton of additional clots in my left lung. We are letting blood thinners take care of those. I've been told I'll never gain full functionality of the left lung again and will probably be on those for life.

I have been told by no less than 3 doctors that the 18 inch clot was the largest they had ever seen. They installed an unusually large stint, due to the May Thurner's syndrome and the likelihood of happening again.

We assumed this year was going to be a better year, and we were wrong. 2 months ago, I went in for what should have been a routine followup on my prostate. My psa actually jumped from 5 to 6.5, which should not happen after a turp.

And that brings us to this week and the good/bad news. Monday, I just had a biopsy (on my mostly removed prostate), and they found a lesion that is positive for cancer. That is the bad news. The good news is that it is a 6 on the gleason scale and i will take that as a win.

In a nutshell, I missed over 6 months of gym time during all this. And when I could make it, it has been at a reduced load. I'm finally nearly to 100% again in terms of strength. So I'm just excited to learn that I hopefully don't have to have a full prostate removal and lose a few more months in the gym.

Fleezy · Mar 22, 2026

i had half my liver cut out 2 years ago open surgery... that sucked.

could be wrong, but wasn't there a member here who actually had a full blown cardiac arrest and not only survived - but went on to get big again?

as someone who works in a hospital, you dont know how crazy that is - unless you know how crazy that is

Fleezy · Mar 22, 2026

Fleezy said:
could be wrong, but wasn't there a member here who actually had a full blown cardiac arrest and not only survived - but went on to get big again?

as someone who works in a hospital, you dont know how crazy that is - unless you know how crazy that is

to be fair though, i'd be very surprised if he's still alive..

maybe leave that part out of what you tell our friend

stackdizzy · Mar 22, 2026

Man I had open heart surgery then almost died from rhabdo. I was the weakest I could remember being in my life after rhabdo, I literally started back squaring with just dimes on the bar. I have been getting hemtamos they think blood thinners that has been keeping me a bay. I have been going good since January and I've lost 20lbs and starting to get a little more muscle finally. Haven't reached my goals but have about a solid 7-8 weeks of solid lifting so I am happy as shit. I am 240 now and really want 220 lean.

Tomgrass · Mar 22, 2026

The only inspiration i ever needed was the fact that every day bring me a fresh start.

specter · Mar 22, 2026

Ive been through a bit i my life and well im still here eventhough i have thought about leaving several times through my life.

First real accident was when i was about 8-9years old, my uncle hit me with his car as i was crossing a road on my bike, only reason i didnt get serious head injuries was my bike helmet wich split in two parts.

Second real accident i can remember was when i was about 17 years old, i was driving home from work on my tuned moped ran about 100km/t a car didnt see me coming and did a full u turn infront of me and i hit the car in the b pillar and my moped slammed me up against the car and my head through the back side window, again a helmet saved my life but there was damage to my head, the scarf i was wearing because it was cold saved my life because i fell on the glas from the window with my neck but got away only with scratches, my right knee got absolutely fucked becaus it got cought between the car and my very heave moped.

Third real accident was a car accident, i was waiting in a wan in a queue of cars on a big bridge, something got me to look in the rear mirror and i saw a car coming and something told me that he didnt understand we where holding still, so i pressed down on my brake pedal grabbed the stearing wheel hard and braced for impact and fuckin hell he hit me hard, but because i had hit the brake pad so hard my van didnt really hit the other cars, but after that my neck, back and left shoulder was truly fucked bad..

Fourth real accident was again at work, i was about 21 at this point or something like that, i was messing around with a mechanic at work and just takin the piss, so he thought i left and turned to talk to another mechanic, at this point he was holding the hood of a car in his arm straight up and he was like 6,4" 6,5" so a tall fella and he went to slam the hood down, not knowing i was reaching in at the engine to pick a part up, the corner of the hood where it curves around the front headlamp hit me straight in the top front of the head, i was knocked out could and had a large gash across the top of my head and a split of my skull was chipped of..

Now the fifth real accident.... another car crash and again someone hitting me from behind....

and i could go on and on and on, these are only the "real accidents" i have an absolute fuck ton more i could write, but... sometimes life fucks you, sometimes it fucks you hard no lube... but you push on, if not for yourself, then for the people who love you, the people who want to see you have a good life, the people who want you in their life.. you push on...

bizzbtw · Mar 22, 2026

When I was 16, I fell down my friends basement steps, probably a good 20 steps I slid down on my back. 1 year later at 17 years old I ended up having 3 back surgeries all within a month and a half. Fast forward to today, I’ve had 5 back surgeries and my L4-L5 is fused. I think it was a good thing being extremely humbled at such a young age.

Splitzz · Mar 22, 2026

I Praise you guys for keep pushing after these types of incidents! Very motivating to helps guys get back to it

carbs · Mar 22, 2026

yeah I can relate to this

Had major surgery on back.

Out of action for a year. Bad depression Looked like a stick.

Tell him to take it one day at a time and he will get back faster than he thinks. Just got to start. Slow and steady.

SouthernMuscle · Mar 22, 2026

AllOkJumpmaster said:
I have a really good friend, served in the Army with this guy for over 15 years. He was hit by a car from a drunk driver while training for an Ironman Triathlon. He has spent a year recovering from those injuries. Lost a ton of muscle, gained a decent amount of fat, and took a big hit to his mental health. This guy is and always will be a fucking stud, but right now he is down and out about how much he has lost. I know in my heart he will bounce back. We served in The Ranger Regiment together, and I know what he is capable of, but right now his mind is clouded by knowing what he was, and what is now.

I know he knows that I am in his corner for motivation and affirmation, but I was hoping maybe some inspiration from other stories of overcoming obstacles could help embolden his comeback push.

Thanks to anyone that is willing to contribute with theirs own personal stories. Sometimes seeing what others have also overcome can be extremely helpful.

I’d be willing to bet a lot of his disposition has been created by anger that turned to feelings of helplessness. The shit happened for no good reason and ultimately he’ll never be able to even the score with the drunk driver. Unless he’s dead then none of this applies.

Maybe controversial maybe not but specific mushrooms have a way of changing the way you look at situations. Even just a lil bit ED or EOD

Theone233 · Mar 22, 2026

Adversity only makes us stronger in the end. I had cancer when I was 8 and lost my leg to that. Suffered numerous broken bones ( femur 5 times, 3 crushed vertebras in my back, ribs, internal bleeding from that) & just recently tore my bicep tendon. I don’t look at any of that as a reason to give up. I still wake up each and everyday, so it’s my job to make the best of it. I think we all have our own story of some sort. Stay positive and live your life to the fullest

SouthernMuscle · Mar 22, 2026

Theone233 said:
Adversity only makes us stronger in the end. I had cancer when I was 8 and lost my leg to that. Suffered numerous broken bones ( femur 5 times, 3 crushed vertebras in my back, ribs, internal bleeding from that) & just recently tore my bicep tendon. I don’t look at any of that as a reason to give up. I still wake up each and everyday, so it’s my job to make the best of it. I think we all have our own story of some sort. Stay positive and live your life to the fullest

Damn! Some excellent mental toughness!

I’m curious do you have one of those prosthetics that look like a rounded metal band on the bottom? I’ve seen double amputees with those things runnin round like it was no big deal!

Now that I think about it, the fact that I saw them on tv or internet makes me think they’re the exception not the rule…

Theone233 · Mar 22, 2026

SouthernMuscle said:
Damn! Some excellent mental toughness!

I’m curious do you have one of those prosthetics that look like a rounded metal band on the bottom? I’ve seen double amputees with those things runnin round like it was no big deal!

Now that I think about it, the fact that I saw them on tv or internet makes me think they’re the exception not the rule…

No, that’s a running leg. I’m below the knee amputee, so I’m grateful that I still have my knee. Without having the knee it makes it 100 times harder but the C-leg computerized knees are pretty neat. I’m just a regular blue collar average joe that works 50-60 hours a week doing construction. Bodybuilding started all because of my accident that broke my back when I was 18. I took up lifting to help rehab myself back to everyday activities. I ran with it for about 14 years. I now have 4 kids and just focusing on living life to its fullest and keeping in shape

SouthernMuscle · Mar 22, 2026

Theone233 said:
No, that’s a running leg. I’m below the knee amputee, so I’m grateful that I still have my knee. Without having the knee it makes it 100 times harder but the C-leg computerized knees are pretty neat. I’m just a regular blue collar average joe that works 50-60 hours a week doing construction. Bodybuilding started all because of my accident that broke my back when I was 18. I took up lifting to help rehab myself back to everyday activities. I ran with it for about 14 years. I now have 4 kids and just focusing on living life to its fullest and keeping in shape

Damn dude. Keeping a respectable physique with [4 kids + significant injuries + long hours physical job]

all that on your back AND still keeping a positive attitude!?

Respect

Also I’m not crying I have fucking allergies ok

Theone233 · Mar 22, 2026

SouthernMuscle said:
Damn dude. Keeping a respectable physique with [4 kids + significant injuries + long hours physical job] all that on your back AND still keeping a positive attitude!?

Respect
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Also I’m not crying I have fucking allergies ok

Thanks brother.. that’s what I love most about this board. Everyone for the most part has each other’s backs. So much great info here as well

Growthman · Mar 22, 2026

There’s a lot of power in prayer

TheOtherOne55 · Mar 22, 2026

I survived a crazy car accident when i was 20. Shouldve killed me but I was lucky enough to walk away, finish my college football career, etc.

When i was 20 years old, this was like summer after my sophomore year in college football, I got in a car accident. For summer break, they would always let us go home, fuck around for a couple weeks, then told all the football players to come back and just get ready for camp. We would get summer jobs working at school, train with the team, conditioning, lifting, etc. Well i went home and fucked around and then drove back to school. My parents lived 6hrs west of my college town, big ass desert separating the two.

Well i was 20, an idiot, wreckless and drove fast. I also drove a Ford Explorer. I was driving thru the desert going about 95mph, seatbelt on when i looked away and then felt the car thud underneath. I honestly though i hit something, a coyote, some animal. I took my seatbelt off, looked back in my rearview mirror, nothing. Scared me. And i was about 15 miles from my normal fill up spot. So i slowed down getting nervous but said, "Fuck it, just get to the gas station then take a look under the car when u get there." As i sped back up to close to 100mph, i noticed the car steering wheel shaking pretty hard, not normal at all. What i didnt know was that the thud was my left rear tire's tread ripping off. So i was essentially driving on an intertube at close to 100mph now. And then an explosion from that back side of the car as the tube popped. The car dipped draggin down and basically pulled hard left. Im on the freeway flying and it felt like the car was trying to make a U turn. I remember hitting the divider and thinking, "oh shit, lock your arms out." Then remembering that i took my seatbelt off minutes prior. And then i black out.

I wake up on the side of the street, it honestly felt like i was coming out of anesthesia. But there was a woman running at me screaming and two guys kinda sprinting over to me. I was on the side of the street, fully off the freeway and i was trying to stand up. I could feel nothing. They told me my car flipped like 6 times and shot me out like a cannon. I honestly could keep going but u get the idea lol because it was the middle of the desert, it took the ambulance 45 mins to get to me so they airlifted in a helicopter instead. I broke my back (wore a halo for awhile) huge hematoma on my head and hip, ejected out of the front windshield 100 ft, NO cracked skull but it scalped me. The glass mustve hit it just right where it took the skin and hair riiight off my head like a flap lol I sat out that year, redshirted, and then came back to play my junior year.