At the heart of a new breath! The Facebook page created by Jonathan Drutel. At 34, Jonathan reflects on his life, his struggles against illness, cystic fibrosis. A perpetual fight to live, survive, and overcome fate. Jonathan describes his childhood, his adolescence, and the young adult confronted with the immediate reality of death. But life is stronger.
With his determination, he will fight, regain his breath, the vital breath that this genetic disease reduces to the point of rendering it non-functional, leading to the inevitable fatal outcome. The doctors’ verdict is inexorable, yet Jonathan refuses to accept it, continuing his studies, and then comes the transplant protocols. Twice he undergoes transplantation, a first failure, then finally a victory, his victory.
Jonathan goes further. He is a witness to this illness, he has lived it, and wants to share his experience, his fight, hence this book. He also wants to raise public awareness about this disease. Therefore, another challenge: he wants to show that after the heart and lung transplant, life resumes, and it is beautiful.
A double message here: transplantation is a hope and organ donation saves lives. Does life resume? No, it continues, thus Jonathan sets himself sports challenges, including the Nice triathlon, this Ironman where it only matters to participate, to finish, his way of winning.
A poignant book, but above all a lesson in courage for those who give up. As long as there is life, there is hope. Jonathan Drutel is hope incarnate.
Thierry Jan
