Jared Maynard, a 34-year-old father of three from Ontario, Canada, was once in peak physical condition, dedicating six days a week to bodybuilding and powerlifting while working as a physical therapist. His life took a dramatic turn in January 2023 when a common cold rapidly escalated into a life-threatening condition.
Within days, Maynard developed jaundice and delirium, prompting a hospital visit. Tests revealed he had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and severe immune disorder where the immune system attacks the body. The illness caused multi-organ failure, affecting his liver and kidneys. Doctors identified Epstein-Barr virus as the trigger for his HLH, a condition with a 40 percent mortality rate.
Maynard required life support and hospice care for nearly two months before showing signs of recovery. Following this, he underwent an arduous rehabilitation process to regain basic functions such as walking, sitting, standing, speaking, and breathing independently, a process that took another two months due to significant muscle wasting.
Accelerated Vision Loss
Despite surviving the life-threatening HLH, Maynard faced a new challenge approximately five months later when his peripheral vision began to deteriorate. This development was particularly alarming as he had been diagnosed with choroideremia as a teenager. Choroideremia is a genetic eye disease affecting about one in 50,000 people, primarily men, caused by a mutation in the CHM gene on the X chromosome. The condition leads to the progressive degeneration of the retina and choroid, typically starting with night blindness and a gradual loss of peripheral vision.
Doctors had previously informed Maynard that his choroideremia was unlikely to significantly progress until his 50s or 60s. However, they now believe his near-fatal battle with HLH may have accelerated the decline, possibly due to the inflammation and cellular stress associated with the severe illness. This accelerated progression led to his central vision diminishing to the point where, at age 33, he could no longer see his computer screen, and was subsequently declared legally blind.
Maynard expressed his shock, stating, "I thought being on end-of-life care would be the last battle I had to face. But the next one I literally couldn’t see coming." He added, "I thought I had time. But everything declined faster than anybody expected. At 33, I suddenly couldn't see my own computer screen. Not long after, my eye doctor said the words I was dreading out loud: 'You’re legally blind.'"
Adapting to New Realities
Currently 34 years old, Maynard is adjusting to his vision loss. He has acquired a white cane to aid in navigation and to alert others to his impairment, though he acknowledges the initial difficulty and embarrassment associated with its use. He recalled an incident in a crowded airport where he tripped over a bench, leading to a public fall.
Despite these challenges, Maynard remains determined. He continues to work, utilizing assistive technologies such as screen readers for daily tasks, and is in the process of obtaining a guide dog. His goal is to return to competitive bodybuilding by the end of the year. "Everything I do now runs on four words: you’re not done yet," he stated. "That isn’t a promise that everything goes back to how it was. Some things don’t. Some scars stay. But ‘done’ is only when you stop trying to become the person you want to be – and I’m nowhere near that."