As Aaron Sanchez, lists out the health issues and the years spent drinking, what strikes a listener the most, is how open Aaron confronts his difficult past. He is not without appreciation for his journey, nor is his tone dismissive. Instead, he bears a lightness that comes with living in honesty and having overcome the darkest period of his life. The moment his habits caught up with him was November 11, 2022 in the doctor's consultation room when he was told that 'one more drop' of alcohol would kill him. After twenty years of drinking daily, Aaron had been diagnosed with stage 4 cirrhosis. His doctor was afraid that Aaron could die at any minute and challenged him to not drink for 60 days.
'I didn't talk, work, or eat for a month,' he says of his reaction to the grim news. The shock and the severity of his situation spurred him to completely overhaul his lifestyle. He stopped drinking and began to train, a little at first, and then, gradually, he worked his way up. Today, Aaron works out 90 minutes every single day. Even so, there was no guarantee that his efforts would save his life, but it was better than giving up. After all, Aaron, a husband and father of two, had reasons to fight for.
Aaron says his relationship with alcohol began in high school at 17 years old. Drinking would ease social situations and make him the 'fun' guy. His reliance on alcohol only grew from there. Despite becoming a father and his job as a pipe fitter for the union, Aaron kept up his habit. Aaron says that alcohol became his life and his identity. He had been drinking for so long, he no longer knew who he was without it. Denial and depression aided his decline, he had high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and he was significantly overweight.
How does anyone overcome such a stark health diagnosis, or even know where to begin? Aaron says the mental hurdles were even harder than the physical ones, and his answer was incremental training. 'Keep the pressure, doesn't matter the speed,' he says. Personal growth, he advises, starts with small and achievable goals combined with a determination not to quit. The Queen Creek resident says that even when you plateau, a stumbling block for many, you just have to keep going. Aaron says taking a personal inventory and being honest with yourself helps to confront what may be truly holding you back.
In Aaron's case, he began with resistance bands and gradually added more tension over time. He also dumped junk food and sweets and instead opted for a largely plant based diet with chicken and beef on occasion. The result was a loss of 100 pounds, getting his blood pressure under control, and recently, his doctor gave him the astonishing news that his liver is on track to a full recovery in 2-5 years. 'I thought it was incurable!' says Aaron of his stage 4 cirrhosis.
Yet the most meaningful change for Aaron has been in his relationships. His wife Carrie and his two sons have their husband and father back. Aaron says he takes a lot of joy in his family now. His youngest son, Adin, is special needs with sensory and mobility issues. Queen Creek has been a haven for their family as he says the therapies for children available in town are part of the reason they have made it their home. In addition they have found a peace and quiet here that benefits Adin particularly. Peace is certainly part of Aaron's new chapter. Instead of drinking or heading to the bar, he prioritizes time with his family instead.
'Drinking is a way of running away from your destiny,' Aaron adds. Today, Aaron is rewriting that destiny that would have led him to an early grave. His efforts have not gone unnoticed either. In 2024, Aaron placed 2nd in the Men's Health Magazine's annual Ultimate Health Challenge. Aaron says he was quite nervous about the photoshoot, but ultimately he says it's worth it to get his story out there. He was driven by the thought of how he would be remembered, and being alcoholic was not how he wanted his legacy to be.
Aaron also credits his spirituality for aiding his resilience and commitment. 'God wants your 100%,' he says. Despite his own incredible turn around, Aaron firmly believes that 'everyone is capable of being amazing'. He admits he has wasted 20 years, but he refuses to waste anymore.