Wes Johnson nearly died in late January after suffering a medical emergency and collapsing in an Atlanta hotel room. Now, weeks later, the beloved Capitals PA announcer believes he’s on the road to what he hopes is a full recovery after his DC area doctors found the root cause of his issues.
Johnson underwent surgery on Tuesday, and the operation was a success. He returned home from the hospital the next day.
“Voice is back,” Johnson said on social media. “Walking the halls is good. Now I build up strength so I can return to COA and my @Capitals family.”
Johnson’s issues first started when he traveled down to Georgia to host a benefit event for the Alzheimer’s Association in mid-January. The voice actor never made it out of his hotel room, deeply worrying his family when he stopped communicating. Eventually, hotel security broke into his room, where they found him unconscious. He was immediately transported to the hospital, where EMS struggled to find a pulse.
Johnson immediately entered intensive care, where he was placed in a medically induced coma. Five days later, he woke up and began speaking again. Shortly after, he regained enough strength to return home to DC. While his discharge in Atlanta was a triumph in itself, Johnson still had work to do with his own local doctors because the reason for his emergency remained unclear.
Johnson underwent more tests earlier in the month before the cause was believed to be found.
“I’m feeling better every day,” Johnson said. “Surgery has left me stiff and pained sometimes, but I’m pushing through with lots of walking and physical therapy. Just happy to be here to have the opportunity to fix what was wrong, and work hard at rehabbing my body.”
Johnson’s health scare and inspiring recovery have mirrored Craig Laughlin’s, who underwent open-heart surgery at the beginning of the month and returned home last week.
Got back from the doctor’s office today to find a huge bouquet of flowers from the @Capitals encouraging me to “Unleash the Healing.” These are happy tears. Can’t wait to rejoin the family. pic.twitter.com/AGgpBIP7FZ
— Wes Johnson (@WesJohnsonVoice) February 11, 2025
Indeed, unleash the healing, friend!
11 am update: Johnson shared his condition and medical plight on his social media.
“Ok. Here’s what happened. After a botched colonoscopy sent me into liver shock a year ago, I’ve been fighting against an Intussusception (look it up) and malabsorption. Even while eating, I was starving. I grew weaker and more exhausted but I never gave up, never surrendered. Kept bringing Fury to the Caps, doing tv commercials and filming the Star Trek film Farragut Forward and even its sequel. I tried to NEVER let the growing exhaustion be seen or affect my performances. After a year my body gave out after an exhausting flight to Atlanta. I slept, but my vital organs started shutting down. Blood pressure crashed. Kidneys started going. Anemia was destroying my red blood cells. I was found unconscious with very little pulse. Repercussions from a procedure I’ve done many times without incident had caught up to me. I was given life saving efforts in the ER then put in a medically induced coma for three days. I was intubated for five days. Dialysis for three days. A blood transfusion. The doctors told my wife I wasn’t going to make it. The @alzassociation flew Kim and one of my sons to Atlanta and set them up in the room I had for the duration of my time in the Emory ICU. Such beautiful souls at @ALZNCA. The doctors and nurses were surprised when I responded to the treatment, and talking after being extubated. Told me and my family that they expected me to go the other way. It was a bit of a miracle that I came back, but there were so many wonderful people praying and sending good vibes, it turned into my George Bailey moment. Lots of happy tears were shed reading what people said. Back home, Dr Moazzez got me into surgery asap. On Tuesday my small bowel was resectioned, and the Intussusception was fixed so I am now absorbing nutrients for food and vitamins. I’m stiff, sore and walking it off carefully. My voice is back, energy is returning, my enthusiasm is sky high, and I’m grateful for this second lease on life. Wes, Part Two is going to be fun. I’m incredibly happy to be here. Cheers~”
Ok. Here’s what happened. After a botched colonoscopy sent me into liver shock a year ago, I’ve been fighting against an Intussusception (look it up) and malabsorption. Even while eating, I was starving. I grew weaker and more exhausted but I never gave up, never surrendered.… https://t.co/uhbVdBNy8R
— Wes Johnson (@WesJohnsonVoice) February 14, 2025
