- Julia Linn, from the US, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 11
- Her condition caused a series of severe health complications, including kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, and early heart disease
- She underwent an experimental kidney and pancreas transplant and stunned doctors when she not only survived but thrived in the wake of the procedure
A double organ transplant patient who was told she wouldn’t live past the age of 40 thanks to her horrifying health struggles has defied all medical expectations to become a champion bodybuilder at the age of 66.
Julia Linn, who lives in the US, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was just 11 – a condition that caused a host of other serious health complications, including blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, and early heart disease.
By the time she was 34, her kidneys had failed – and she was told by doctors that one of the only options remaining to her was a life-threatening experimental surgery during which they would replace both her kidney and her pancreas.
‘I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11 and began taking insulin shots,’ Julia recalled. ‘It was 1968, and diabetes was regarded as an “old person’s disease”.
She states: ‘I lost over 35 pounds on my 5’1′ frame and gained a lot of stamina. My body became more sculpted than ever’
‘By the age of 24, I had diabetic retinopathy (blindness), neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney failure, arteriosclerosis, and early heart disease.
‘My vision was saved by laser burn treatments on my eyes, but other diabetes complications progressed. My kidneys had failed by age 34, and my doctors prepared me for dialysis while placing me on a kidney transplant waiting list.
‘They were performing experimental pancreas transplants at the time. Only about 2,000 had been completed globally, and the risks were high. Countless people died during or after surgery due to strokes, heart attacks, or other complications.
‘It was up to me to risk having both organs transplanted in a 12-hour touch-and-go surgery.’
Despite the overwhelming odds being stacked against her, Julia chose to take the risk, and the search for a kidney and pancreas donor began.
‘During this period, my love for humanity multiplied a thousandfold,’ she said. ‘I learnt that we are all inextricably linked to one another. I was basically waiting for someone to die so that I could live. Every day, I thank my organ donor.’
Eventually, Julia was matched with an organ donor – a 25-year-old named Gina who died in a tragic car crash.
After the transplant, Julia encountered another health scare and had to undergo a triple cardiac bypass and thyroidectomy.
In the depths of a challenging childhood and the complexities of juvenile diabetes, Julia faced a future marred by uncertainty
Nevertheless, she boldly decided to reshape her body, mind, and spirit through the power of fitness.
Julia explained weight loss became a byproduct of her unwavering commitment to achieve ultimate well-being – a shift in mindset that unlocked a world of newfound energy and vitality.
‘I lost over 35 pounds on my 5’1″ frame and gained a lot of stamina. My body became more sculpted than ever,’ she revealed.
‘I started going to the gym for one to two hours five days a week and walked for 30 to 50 minutes four times a week.
‘My diet also changed. I began planning and preparing my meals for the week, ensuring enough protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. I also started using a macro system to track my food.’
So remarkable were the physical changes she experienced that she set her sights on competing in a bodybuilding contest at the age of 64.
‘I’ve always been athletic and come from a sports-loving family. As a child, I was a competitive swimmer. As a teenager, I was a runner, cheerleader, and mountain climber,’ Julie shared.
Initially, the double organ transplant survivor set herself the goal of competing in a fitness contest in order to mark the 30 year anniversary of her life-saving surgery.
‘With the 30th anniversary of my organ transplant approaching and having turned 62, I wanted to express how happy and grateful I was to be alive, so I joined a fitness challenge. And won,’ she said.
‘Then I set a goal of a bodybuilding competition, NPC Masters Bikini, and won.’
Julia, who has over 40 years of experience as a university professor and is a certified Personal Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), is today a well-known advocate for women aged between 40 and 70.
On her social media platforms, she dispels the myth that menopause and ageing cause bodies to be broken, unworthy, or past their prime and debunks common myths about women and strength training, including the notion that it causes bulkiness or compromises femininity.
She also encourages women intimidated by gym environments by offering guidance to overcome barriers such as unfamiliarity with equipment or self-consciousness.
‘I often tell the women I meet that it is never too late,’ Julia expressed.
‘You are never too old to learn. You have the knowledge and most likely the time, but you must have a WHY.
‘My WHY is still gratitude for being alive in this body. I would not live past the age of 40 unless I received a double organ transplant that provided me with a functioning kidney and a pancreas.
‘There is no reason someone in their 60s cannot improve their fitness. You just need a reason to make a change.’
Jokingly referring to herself as a ‘queenager’, Julia says she looks and feels better now than she ever did when she was a teenager – a transformation that has wowed her thousands of followers on Instagram.