For eight years, a 22-year-old gamer relied on energy drinks as his fuel for endless overnight CS:GO sessions. What began innocently at 16—with just a single can to stay awake—quickly spiraled into a dangerous habit. One can turned into two, then three a day, often chugged on an empty stomach as he pushed through matches, tournaments, and sleepless nights. He thought it was harmless. He thought he was young enough to handle it.
But by 2024, his body could no longer keep up with the punishment.
The first signs were subtle: constant stomach pain, nausea, numbness in his legs. Then it became impossible to ignore. His pancreas began to fail, necrosis set in, and his liver and spleen showed severe damage. Even the nerves in his legs had begun to deteriorate. One morning, when he tried to get out of bed like always, his legs simply wouldn’t respond. He collapsed back onto the mattress, unable to stand.
His parents rushed him to the hospital, where doctors were stunned by the extent of the damage. Years of extreme caffeine overload, combined with lack of sleep and poor nutrition, had pushed his organs to the brink.
Now, a team of specialists is fighting to undo what they can. They’re working to stabilize his organs, reduce inflammation, and rebuild the nerve pathways in his legs. Physical therapy has begun, but progress is slow. Doctors say there is a chance he might walk again—but the odds aren’t in his favor.
What started as a way to stay awake for “just one more game” has turned into the biggest battle of his life.
