The Man Who Defied Death
Antoine Cabarrus’ Incredible Fight for Survival
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
Antoine Cabarrus, a name that resonates with strength and determination, and a community favorite among Ashland, has lived through incredible experiences—both on the football field and in the military. A graduate of Marshall University, Carbarrus’ education spans two undergrad degrees—one in marketing and another in business management—along with a graduate degree in leadership studies. He attended Marshall on a full-ride football scholarship, and his nine years of service in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of captain, shaped him into the person he is today.
Known throughout the community for his heartfelt music and performances at the Ashland Area YMCA Block Parties and Youth Worship Nights, Carbarrus has always sought to connect with others through his art. “Every song that I write has meaning,” Antonine shared. “I make an effort to be 100% transparent so that people who listen to my music can relate to me as a human being who goes through the same struggles as everyone else.” This spirit of openness and vulnerability has allowed him to build strong, lasting connections with his audience, especially with the youth, whom he encourages through his songs and through his involvement at the YMCA.
Recently Cabarrus had the opportunity to go on vacation with his wife to Mexico. But what should have been a relaxing getaway for the two turned into something that no one could have anticipated. The events that unfolded were so harrowing, they sound almost impossible to believe.
Cabarrus and his family had arrived in Mexico on a Saturday, looking forward to a relaxing week at the Dreams Adventures resort in Riviera Maya. The resort’s staff was incredibly attentive, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. But on Tuesday, things took an unimaginable turn when he visited a local pharmacy outside the resort in Playa Del Carmen. He was in constant pain from an injury sustained during his military service and needed medication to manage his chronic back pain. He had purchased medication at pharmacies in Mexico before without issue, but this time would be different.
The pills he received appeared to be the same as his regular prescription—marked exactly like the ones he was accustomed to taking. He bought only two pills, thinking they would help him get through the rest of the trip. But after taking one pill that evening, his condition took a drastic turn. Suddenly he began to feel excessively sweaty and, though he didn’t think much of it at the time, he fell into a deep sleep. It was that sleep that would almost claim his life.
His wife, Johnna Marie Cabarrus, woke up in the middle of the night to find her husband unresponsive. She attempted to wake him, but he wouldn’t stir. Panicked, she called for help. Within moments, Cabarrus began to vomit uncontrollably, and then—he stopped breathing. What followed was nothing short of a nightmare. Johnna performed CPR while the hotel staff rushed to her aid. Soon, they informed her that he had no pulse, and they frantically administered Narcan and adrenaline in a desperate attempt to revive him. As he recounted, “I was told that I had no pulse for at least five minutes. To me, this still feels unreal.”
Once revived, Cabarrus’ was rushed to a private hospital where his wife was met with an appalling reality: the hospital demanded a $6,000 deposit before they would provide any medical care. They claimed that his symptoms were due to a fentanyl overdose, a result of the pills he had unknowingly taken at the pharmacy. The situation only worsened from there. The private hospital continued to extort money from his wife, demanding more and more funds in exchange for care. But when they couldn’t drain any more money from her, they sent her and Cabarrus to a public hospital. What they found there was even more terrifying.
The public hospital was straight out of a dystopian movie—no air conditioning, outdated equipment, blood stains on the floor, and no access to basic necessities like water or a phone. The staff ignored Cabarrus’ condition, and Johnna was told they had to remain there for three days due to aspiration pneumonia. Despite everything, Cabarrus’ wife’s maternal instincts kicked in, and she refused to let her husband stay in this horrific environment any longer and against medical advice, she decided to leave and return to the resort.
In an act of compassion, an interpreter from the resort stayed with Mrs. Cabarrus throughout the ordeal. He helped her stay calm, fed her, and kept her hydrated while her husband received treatment from the resort’s medical staff. At this point, both Johnna and Antonine had no choice but to wait for their flight home.
As Cabarrus’ health remained fragile, the doctor at the resort explained that his heart had stopped for five minutes. The doctor’s quick actions had brought him back to life. But the prognosis was grim: Cabarrus’ lungs were struggling, and he couldn’t fly just yet. The doctor advised that they return to the private hospital, where the family had already been extorted. Mr Cabarrus, refused. She had one goal in mind: getting and that was getting her husband to a hospital in the U.S., where he could receive proper care.
On the flight back home, Cabarrus’ health continued to deteriorate. He struggled to breathe, and the airline staff had to provide oxygen. Upon landing, an ambulance was waiting to take him to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left lung and aspiration pneumonia. Despite everything he had been through, his faith and resilience carried him through this final chapter of his recovery as he was given blood thinners and antibiotics to aid in his healing.
Cabarrus explained that when he first regained consciousness and started to process what had happened, his first instinct was to ask, "Is this real?" He had seen pictures of his own body lying lifeless on the floor, blue lips, eyes rolled back in his head, and unresponsive to touch. Most people never get the chance to witness their own body in such a state. However, Cabarrus survived to tell his tale—a miraculous second chance at life that began with a vacation gone terribly wrong.
Despite all that he has been through, Cabarrus urges us all not to live in fear. “We gain wisdom and knowledge through life experiences, but it is important that you don’t let fear control your life.”
Cabarrus’ story is one of survival… It’s a tale that defies belief, but it’s one that will resonate with anyone who has ever faced the unthinkable and lived to talk about it. Through his music and his experiences, Cabarrus hopes to continue to inspire others to keep fighting, no matter the odds.
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