Arnold Schwarzenegger dedicated his life to building the perfect physique. Although he retired from competitive bodybuilding after winning seven Mr. Olympia titles, the bodybuilding legend continued to pursue fitness. However, despite his efforts, Schwarzenegger suffered because of a hereditary defect. Arnie found he also had a defective heart valve after his mother was diagnosed with the same condition.

Schwarzenegger learned about the heart condition during his 30s. However, doctors assured the bodybuilding legend they would correct the defect if the valve started failing. That fated surgery happened in 1997 when Arnie experienced pain and breathlessness in his chest. So Arnie went under the knife, and the surgery seemed like a success before things took a turn for the worse. His doctor then gave him some terrifying news.

Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly died after his first surgery

Schwarzenegger chose Dr. Vaughn Starnes as his surgeon. While discussing the surgery, Starnes said he was a fan of Schwarzenegger and wanted him to continue making films and living life to the fullest. However, there was a catch. The actor would have to limit his physical activity level for the rest of his life if they used an artificial replacement valve.

Hence, Starnes said he would use an organic replacement valve. However, there was a chance the valve might fail. So, Schwarzenegger and his doctor decided to go forward, as giving up on fitness would be impossible for the bodybuilding icon. After the surgery, the Austrian Oak woke up to see his then-wife Maria Shriver beside him. He also felt no discomfort.

In his 2012 book, Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote that within two hours of waking up, he hopped on the exercise bike the hospital provided him for use later that week. However, Starnes told him to stop and, despite being happy with the progress, ordered some tests. Later that evening, the Austrian Oak started coughing and couldn’t sleep as his lungs started filling with fluid.

“At three in the morning, the doctor came back in. He sat down on the bed and held my hand,”?Schwarzenegger wrote in his book. Starnes said, “I?m terribly sorry… but this didn?t work. We have to take you back into surgery. I?m putting together the best team. We are not going to lose you,”?he wrote in Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story.

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“Lose me?”?is all the fitness icon could blurt out while trying to process the news. However, the second surgery the following morning was a resounding success.?“So I got a second or third lease on life, depending on how you count it,”?Schwarzenegger wrote in the autobiography.

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While two consecutive surgeries took their toll on the five-time Mr. Universe, he recovered and bounced back. Now 76, Arnie is still acting, just like Stranes hoped he would.