The 22-year-old Texas man suffered a heart attack shortly after his marriage.

PLANTERSVILLE, Texas. Young newlyweds from Plantersville, Texas, didn’t experience the bridal bliss they expected after a frank diagnosis shortly after their honeymoon.

22-year-old Cody Canton was diagnosed with a heart attack that nearly claimed his life.

Canton spent most of his life in rodeo tying, but the best thing he ever tied was his wife’s heart.

“She has a beautiful smile, beautiful hair. She’s a hard worker,” Canton said of his wife, Mallory.

After spending four years together, they got married in October.

“Immediately after that, Mallory and I left and went on our honeymoon,” Cody said.

They spent seven days hiking in Texas.

When they returned, Cody immediately went back to work the next day.

“Later that day, my heart stopped,” he said.

He said a colleague saved his life.

“He did cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the ambulance arrived. And they said that if he hadn’t, the situation would have been very different,” Cody said.

The doctors said he had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. It was so bad that he was unconscious for six days.

“It was definitely scary, but I think I was just more shocked because he never had any injuries and he wasn’t even in the hospital,” Mallory said.

To this day, doctors are trying to figure out what caused it. They may never know.

“This factor, this drug, this virus could be the cause, but in many cases it cannot be traced,” said Dr. Hashayar Hematpour.

The damage caused Cody to have an irregular heartbeat, so they implanted an ICD that doubles as a pacemaker and defibrillator.

Since October, his heart has stopped several times. Each time, the device returned the rhythm to his heart. He has been hospitalized three times since his marriage – not exactly the happiness of the newlyweds.

“It’s just crazy. I told Mallory, “You have my heart. You have to take care of him,” Cody said.

She stayed by his side the whole time.

“I think sickness and health, I thought we’d be older,” she said.

This is a test of their vows that they did not expect so soon.

“Just thought this is something we’re going to deal with later in life and not the first week,” Mallory said.

Cody’s doctor said he thinks the latest surgery solved his heart problem, but he wants him to take his time. He said that if everything heals quickly, Cody will be able to return to normal life, including rope, within the next year.

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