“Are You Telling Me You Need Heart Surgery”: Ex-Wife Maria Shriver Was Petrified After Arnold Schwarzenegger Confessed His Critical Condition to Her at the 11th Hour

Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger embodies greatness in every venture he undertakes. The seven-time Mr. Olympia helped mainstream sports. Furthermore, the Terminator enriched the silver screen through his powerful action-hero persona. The trailblazer did not stop there. The young boy from Austria achieved the unimaginable by becoming Governor of California. However, behind the scenes, the Austrian Oak battled some health issues.

Schwarzenegger has authored many books catering to the subject of bodybuilding. However, his autobiography reveals the minute details of Arnie’s life. In Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, the former Mr. Universe broached many critical junctures, including his heart surgery in 1997 and his wife’s reaction to the news.

Arnold Schwarzenegger undergoes surgery

Taking a leaf out of the illustrious life that the Austrian Oak has lived, the muscle-bound powerhouse narrated the incident of his heart surgery. During the filming of “Batman and Robin,” Arnie went for an annual medical checkup. His family doctor informed him about the need for surgery to replace the faulty aortic valve, a congenital disease he shared with his mother.

The news of his surgery bothered Shriver when the superstar informed her about the procedure. She asked, flabbergasted, “Wait! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Are you telling me you need heart surgery?” To which the “Fubar” actor wrote in his book, “It was as if I’d never talked about it before. From that point on, she did talk about it continuously, but she also helped me keep it secret. My mother was staying with us for her annual spring visit, and we didn’t even tell her.”

The True Lies told no one about the surgery—not his children, not his dear friend Franco, or his kids. On the day of the surgery, Shriver drove him to the hospital at dawn. Schwarzenegger is someone who does not like to talk too much about his challenges. The hyperactive action star would much rather focus on the work at hand. Mr. Freeze has had a few more surgeries, which is why he works out most days. In a recent throwback video, Conan revealed his reasons.

Schwarzenegger takes care of his heart

The Austrian Oak shows an unparalleled commitment to health and wellness. He did not miss a workout even on his 76th birthday, zooming on the streets on his bicycle. In a resurfaced YouTube update, Arnie trained at Gold’s Gym with Fortune Feimster and Bert Kreischer a few months ago.

Read More: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s $160M Box Office Disaster for Which He Was Paid $25 Million Left Him Mentally Exhausted in 1997: “One by One, All Your Senses Are Shut Off”

The comedian asked the former governor, “So do you progressively go up and wait, like are you training to get bigger or are you just training to maintain?” The philanthropist replied, “I’m just maintaining, yeah.” Furthermore, the Austrian Oak replied, “But I don’t drink heavy anymore, too many heart surgeries,” giving a little more context for his determined approach to fitness. 

The aesthetic King had to undergo three serious heart surgeries. His experience has made him conscious of his lifestyle. Moreover, the fitness guru has made it a point to spread awareness about heart health in his Arnold Pump Club newsletter. Do you take steps to keep your heart healthy? Let us know in the comments. 

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