Teen deemed to have just days to live makes it back on the mat
TEMPERANCE, Mich. (BVM) — Connor Bartlett’s senior season of wrestling at Bedford High School is officially in the books. The 17-year-old competed in 25 matches with a near .500 record, and he was thankful for every minute of it. That’s because over a year ago, Bartlett was given just days to live.
A four-year wrestler for the Mules, Bartlett actually joined the sport as a way to prepare for football, but after his freshman year he realized wrestling was the sport he truly loved. Wrestling in the 152-pound weight class, Bartlett faced a lot of tough battles. However, he never could’ve imagined the fight he’d eventually endure.
On Memorial Day 2018, Bartlett first noticed that his arm was numb while watching a movie at home. Not thinking much of it after it went away, the numbness came back again the next night, so he went to the emergency room where doctors chalked it up to dehydration. At school the next day though, Bartlett knew something was seriously wrong.
“I was at school in first hour and it started happening again, but this time it was my entire body. I could tell it was going to be a pretty rough episode,” Bartlett said.
His whole body was numb and the wrestler began to collapse as his friends tried to catch him. Conscious yet unresponsive, Bartlett was rushed to the hospital.
It was a strange occurrence that perplexed doctors at first, but after numerous tests the unfortunate diagnosis came about – Bartlett had testicular carcinoma. To make matters worse, the cancer was stage four and had spread to his brain and lungs.
This kind of illness is very rare for someone so young, especially at such a severe stage. For Bartlett, it was obviously a surprise.
“At first I didn’t know how to react,” he said. “I was in shock and I was thinking that my life just took a massive turn for the worst. I knew I was about to have a rough few months or even rough few years.”
After being in and out of Toledo Hospital over the summer for treatment, Bartlett was taken to University of Michigan Hospital for a bone marrow transplant. The procedure went well at first, but the strong chemo that was being administered to Bartlett caused his heart rate to become severely high. He was transferred to the ICU where it was discovered his intestines had swollen as well. That is when doctors gave the 17-year-old’s parents some of the worst news they could ever hear – their son had just days to live.
For his parents, it was utter disbelief, but they were never going to give up hope.
“It goes without saying they were devastated, but our family’s faith is very strong. If I died, I’d wake up in heaven and in a way that’s the best case scenario. And if I didn’t die I went home. That was generally our outlook for this whole ordeal,” Bartlett said.
Amazingly, this wasn’t the first time his parents were told he might have just days to live. When the wrestler was a newborn he was rushed into surgery due to intestinal issues. He made it through that time, but now, several years later, those words had become reality once again.
Somehow though, Bartlett miraculously pulled through and began to heal. Receiving treatment and living off just IV, he continued to improve.
“Days went by and I wasn’t getting worse. Slowly, but surely I’m getting better and eventually they considered me well enough to take me out of the intensive care unit and back into the cancer ward. That is when it really started to turn for the better,” Bartlett said.
After several more weeks, Bartlett was finally able to go home in January of 2019. The only way he can describe his amazing turnaround is a miracle.
“I thank God for the doctors that he allowed to work on me, but truly God and the power of prayer were the driving force behind it all,” he explained
The Bedford graduate also credits the support he got as a huge help to getting over his illness. His wrestling team visited him numerous times over his summer at Toledo Hospital, but a surprise trip on their way up to a tournament in December meant everything to Bartlett.
“The whole team and all the coaches were there and it was just a great moment. Everyone was there and they really lifted my spirits,” the wrestler said.
The visit was made possible by Bedford wrestling coach Kevin Vogel, who has meant a lot to Bartlett both on and off the mat.
“When coach Vogel calls the wrestling team a family, he truly means it. In just a few words he is a great man, a great coach who knows how to drive a team. His love for his team and people on the team is just so obvious,” Bartlett said.
Ultimately, it was that tutelage and mindset that helped Bartlett be able to fight this illness with a wrestling mentality.
“In many ways fighting this cancer was a lot like fighting an opponent. In wrestling we’re taught if you’re on your back don’t give up, don’t roll over. Just keep fighting, just keep pushing, you never know what’s going to happen,” Bartlett continued.
By March 2019, Bartlett was given the prognosis that all the cancer in his body had gone away or died. The wrestler still gets periodic scans, and at his most recent one it was revealed that even the dead cells had gone away as well, and he is officially clear of all and any cancer.
After being away from the sport of wrestling for almost a calendar year, Bartlett began lifting again in the summer of 2019 with hopes of getting back on the mat in the fall. He was given a clean bill of health by doctors and while his parents were hesitant, they encouraged their son to continue his wrestling career.
“They were cautious, but my coaches and parents were ecstatic and thrilled that I was wrestling again,” the 17-year-old said.
Although Bartlett admits there is a slight difference in strength level and endurance while wrestling now, a .500 record in his senior season is still an impressive feat considering what he went through. He was also part of the Mules team that finished fourth in the state in Division I wrestling this year.
After graduating this summer, Bartlett now moves into the next chapter of his life with a new outlook.
“I realize this is my second brush with death. I want to give all the glory I can back to God and live the rest of my life for Him,” Bartlett said.
To do so he plans to attend the University of Toledo in the fall to obtain a nursing degree, and eventually hopes to become a missionary.
Although he knows there is always a possibility of something like this coming back, Bartlett maintains the same approach.
“There’s always a fear it could happen again, but I’m either going home or to heaven. There really is no downside,” he said.
The wrestler’s story is truly special and rare, but at the same time there are a lot of people going through similar struggles right now. To them, Bartlett says to take some wrestling advice.
“If you’re on your knees and your opponent is on you get your feet from under you. Stand up and keep driving forward. Get those hands off you and push back into them. Always fight, never stop fighting. Give every ounce of strength you have and push and fight. The only way to win a wrestling match is by giving your all. And it’s the only way to win at life, give it your all.”
