Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legendary actor and former governor of California, recently shared a harrowing experience he had during open-heart surgery. In a YouTube video posted on August 23, Schwarzenegger recounted the moments when he woke up to discover that the procedure did not go as planned. This unexpected turn of events put his life at risk, but Schwarzenegger’s determination and the support of his friends played a crucial role in his recovery.
The Scary Turn of Events
Schwarzenegger began by recalling his third open-heart surgery, which took place just months before he was scheduled to start filming “Terminator: Dark Fate” in 2019. Expecting a routine procedure, the actor woke up to a shocking revelation from the doctors. They apologized for deviating from the original plan and informed him that they had accidentally punctured his heart wall. The gravity of the situation immediately struck Schwarzenegger, causing him to panic. He described feeling a sense of fear and uncertainty, unsure of what the outcome would be.
“I remember when I had my open heart surgery, the third one, which was just a few years ago just before we started ‘Terminator 6,'” Schwarzenegger said. “I was really freaking out. I woke up and all of a sudden the doctors were in front of me saying, ‘I’m so sorry, but it was unlike what we planned.'”
Shifting Gears and Moving Forward
Despite the terrifying circumstances, Schwarzenegger knew that dwelling on the disaster would not improve his situation. He recognized that he had to shift gears mentally and focus on recovering as quickly as possible. The actor emphasized the importance of accepting the reality and adapting to it, rather than lamenting over what went wrong. He acknowledged that the clock couldn’t be turned back, and the only way forward was to make the best of the situation.
“The bottom line is, you cannot roll the clock back. It was a disaster. I was in the middle of a disaster,” he said. “So now, how do I get out of it? You have to shift gears. Collect yourself, shift gears and say, ‘OK, what I need to do now is get out of this hospital.'”
Relying on Support
Schwarzenegger understood that he couldn’t overcome this ordeal alone. He reached out to his friends for support, both physically and emotionally. Recognizing the importance of exercise in his recovery, he called upon his buddies to fire him up and motivate him to move despite the challenges he faced. Despite feeling self-conscious about his appearance while waddling through hospital hallways, Schwarzenegger knew that exercising his lungs was crucial to avoiding complications such as pneumonia.
“I even called my buddies in and I said, ‘You guys have to fire me up,'” he said in the video. “I looked like an idiot waddling around in the hallways, but the bottom line was I was getting going because the doctors said you have to exercise your lungs because if you get pneumonia you can die.”
Determination and Resilience
Schwarzenegger’s desire to regain his physical strength and resume his active lifestyle was a driving force in his recovery. He was determined to get back into shape and continue with his rigorous training routine. The actor knew that he needed to be fit and agile for his role in “Terminator: Dark Fate,” which involved demanding fight scenes and physically demanding stunts. Despite the setback, Schwarzenegger’s unwavering determination pushed him to work hard and get back on track.
“I wanted to get really going with the exercise, get out of the hospital as quick as possible, and then get going with the training again. I had to be in shape, I had to move around, run around, lift things up, do the fight scenes,” he explained.
The Importance of a Support System
Schwarzenegger emphasized the pivotal role his friends played in his recovery. Their unwavering support and encouragement provided him with the strength and motivation to push through the challenging moments. Their presence helped him stay positive and focused on his goals. The actor’s experience serves as a testament to the significance of having a strong support system during times of adversity.
“The way all the guys pumped me up and got me going, and then when I started shooting ‘Terminator 6,’ I was all back together again,” Schwarzenegger remarked, acknowledging the impact of his support team.
