Athletic young Melbourne man died at just 21 years of dangerous muscle conditions caused by high-intensity exercise.
Jake Sendler, an amateur MMA fighter and personal trainer who was studying to become a PE teacher, had no idea about striated muscle dissolution until he was suddenly rushed to the hospital, put in intensive care and was told to say goodbye as he wasn't sure if his family could save him.
He fought, but tragically, the doctor was right.
After being in and out of surgery a few days later in the induced coma, Jake passed away within two weeks of being hospitalized on March 13th.
“When we entered the ICU, the doctor opened him again (in another emergency operation), so many tissues were dead and so much damage.
“I told him, 'It's okay, you can rest now, you fought so hard,” I kissed him on the forehead and he passed away. It was the worst moment of my life. ”
The athlete's mother is determined to raise awareness about the “silent killer” who took the boy to ensure that other families would “never experience the pain we felt.”
Striated muscle lysis, also known as “rhabdo,” is the breakdown of muscle tissue, which releases toxins into the bloodstream, which can cause renal failure.
It can also cause serious problems for the heart and other organs.
Symptoms include muscle pain, fatigue and dark urine.
For a 21 year old, the muscle pain was very active and he didn't raise the alarm as he was training hard for the amateur MMA fight.
When he noticed brown urine, he raised his fluid, assuming he was dehydrated.
He was known to be extremely healthy and eat only organic foods.
In a video the day before the fight on March 2nd, he said he felt “surprising.”
“It really felt good, it was exciting and exciting,” he said.
He was medically cleared to fight and continued through the three rounds perfectly, knowing that was the last thing he did.
The fight at the Melbourne Pavilion was supposed to be a stepping stone on the path to becoming a professional MMA fighter.
“He sold 60 tickets to his family and friends and came to see him,” Sharon said.
“Until the end, he raised his hand to show a ref that wasn't out, so he got through the entire three rounds and helped him get out of the ring.”
Jake was having trouble breathing and was experiencing a lot of pain.
His mother said the doctors and coaches thought he was dehydrated and had a concussion.
An ambulance is called to take him to the hospital, where he ends up spending the last day of his life.
“We've had a few days of shock and lots of tears, and we're trying to understand how this happened and what no one knows about this (Rhabdo), he didn't know, his gym didn't know, he was all we're talking about,” Sharone said.
“It can happen to anyone… If we knew about the early signs, Jake could still be here.”
Sharone wants to keep his son's legacy alive by raising awareness about Rhabdo and potentially establishing a foundation.
She was 42 years old and said she had a lot of life left to live without her son and wanted to make sure she was able to spend that time right.
Family set a Please fund me A page that helps you raise funds to support their mission and cover the unexpected costs associated with Jake's death.
“As a family, we make sure his legacy continues to live. We continue our dream of helping athletes and young people, but we'll take care of ourselves because we can't do great things without you here,” Sharon said.
“We're going to continue doing that for him because we know that if he can be here, he's going to change his life.”
In addition to personal training and studying to become a PE teacher, Jake had a certificate IV in the work of youth and worked with children in addition to training adult clients.
“I sent a message to hundreds of people about shocking and how he touched them and inspired them,” Sharon said.
She wants him to remember that he is a hardworking young man who “pursues the best he can.”
The devastated mother described her son as “full of energy” and “light in the room.”
The road to Hex, the organizer of Jake's final battle, said he was “a talented athlete and an incredible young man.”
A shared Instagram post from Podcast Australian MMA and Jake's Club Mat Masters Academy said he was “a true warrior in both the ring and in life.”
“His generosity, strength and unwavering support touched everyone who knew him. Jake's quiet battle with striated muscle dissolution ultimately insisted on his life, but his spirit has not broken,” the statement said.
“We can raise awareness of this life-threatening condition and honor Jake by supporting families through donations or sharing stories. Jake's legacy lives on with the strength and kindness he shares with the world.
