Christophe Lafontant was not expected to see his 7th birthday, but he did. He would then live and survive one life-threatening health problem after another. And throughout his life journey, his family and friends never left his side, especially his mom.
He Was Not Supposed to Live to See His 7th Birthday
Lafontant was a healthy and active six-year-old who did karate and went to school with his friends. Everything was normal, until one night when he suddenly collapsed. Doctors told his parents that he has a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a complete heart block. "Prepare for the worst," the doctors said. He did survive, though, thanks to a pacemaker implant that kept him alive for ten years before having a heart transplant.
Lafontant got his first heart transplant in 2000, Inspiremore noted. He was a junior at Bergen Catholic High School then. However, after four years, his body rejected it, and so he had another heart transplant. Still, he would suffer another setback after that as he would later have kidney failure and develop liver stones.
In 2006, he received a kidney transplant but was also rejected by his body. He also suffered lung failure after he overdosed on pain medication. Still, his ordeal didn't end there as he would later be diagnosed with myofibrillar myopathy - a disorder that affects muscle function and can weaken the heart muscle.
He Felt Helpless as His Body became Weaker
He would then fall into depression and shut out friends and family as his body becomes weaker; he felt helpless. Speaking to Northjersey.com, he said that the most challenging part of overcoming was the mental strain and that it came to the point that it felt like life is not worth living anymore.
Still, despite the physical sufferings and mental anguish, he was able to rise above everything thanks to his friends and family's unwavering support. One particular instance was after he had undergone a procedure which, the doctors warned, might cause him to lose his voice forever. Defying the odds again, he woke up and was able to speak clearly.
Mom Didn't Expect He Would Speak Again After Surgery
In an Instagram post that he shared in late September, he wrote, "My mom hears my voice for the first time after doctors told us that I might never speak again!" In the video, his mom, who just entered his recovery room, looked pleasantly surprised upon hearing Lafontant say, "Hi, mom!" His mom seemed amazed and happy about what she just heard.
"I will never forget this moment!" he adds, "I am so grateful to still have my voice!"
In 2014, he organized The Christophe Lafontant Foundation for Myofibrillar Myopathies to raise awareness and support people suffering from this rare form of muscle disorders. He also wrote a memoir titled "1 Man, 3 Hearts, 9 Lives: A story of hope, resilience, and survival," which he said was therapeutic for him.
He told Newjersey.com that he feels fortunate to have turned 36 and lived a long and active full life. His advice for everyone is to take advantage of life and the loved ones around you.
