The Man Who Cheated Death to Keep Playing League of Legends

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Noah Armstrong, otherwise known as NoArmWhatley, is an individual who miraculously cheated death. After spending two weeks in a coma and enduring months of healing from injuries sustained during a fall from a building, he continues to chase his ambitions as a streamer and maintains his status as one of Europe’s top League of Legends players.

It’s been challenging to come across instances where Whatley has shown negativity regarding this situation. Even with the gravity of his injuries, Whatley has maintained a positive attitude throughout. In fact, if you drop by his live stream or take a peek at his social media, you’ll find he remains as cheerful and optimistic as ever, provided solo queue is going smoothly for him.

One action he took immediately upon returning from the hospital was organizing his injuries into categories, joking about his own baldness, and attempting to create an amusing live stream. While streaming is indeed his profession, it requires a unique degree of mental strength to discuss personal struggles in a way that remains light-hearted and engaging.

Streamer No Arm Whatley, known for LoL, had a shocking accident where he fell from a third-story window. Remarkably, he survived severe life-threatening injuries. Upon waking up from a coma, he expressed his eagerness to play League of Legends again, and humorously ranked his injuries on a tier list.

— TopMob (@TopMob) October 24, 2024

To get a true sense of what this experience entailed for Whatley, let’s delve into his personal account of it. So, I had the opportunity to chat with him about it.

Please be aware that this interview discusses sensitive subjects such as death and mental illness. If these topics are uncomfortable or distressing for you, feel free to stop reading.

The fall

It wasn’t until several weeks later that it became clear how Whatley had met with an accident – attempting to fix a malfunctioning window on the third floor, he lost his balance and plummeted out, suffering a blow to his head upon impact with the ground. This information was mostly relayed to me by Whatley’s mother, but the essence of the story is undeniably grim.

Although barely escaping the possibility of fatal injury to his brainstem, he sustained severe injuries instead. Notably, he had several fractured bones and additionally, life-threatening brain hemorrhages. Recognizing the critical state he found himself in, his mother summoned an ambulance over his objections and efforts to convince her otherwise. He was then transported by helicopter to the hospital.

Straight from that spot, I found myself rushed into emergency surgery, slipping into a coma that held me captive for about two weeks. Miraculously, I emerged from the darkness, defying the odds and awakening.

He shared with me that he woke up groggy and struggling to see clearly as his eyes were filled with blood, leaving him immobile and unable to leave his bed. For several days afterward, he experienced a state the doctors referred to as post-coma disorientation.

As a devoted son or daughter, I can’t express enough how relieved and joyful my mother seemed upon seeing that I had regained consciousness. Yet, it seems I must have panicked upon waking up, for I apparently yelled at her to free me from this place, not remembering any of this myself. What’s more, I was informed that the doctors were attending to me during the two weeks I spent in a coma, and I had no recollection of their presence. It’s clear my mother was shocked by these events, given her firsthand experience of watching over me during those critical days.

However, the doctors were comforting, saying things like, ‘Yes, this is quite common. Waking up and recalling events like that is actually quite normal under these circumstances.’ Looking back, it seems reasonable given that I was unconscious, hooked up to various tubes, and receiving medications intravenously.

An inquiry started to determine the events that transpired. It turns out his account now aligns with reality, as he fell from a malfunctioning window with a cracked frame. Unfortunately, it was just an accident. However, prior to this incident, the doctors suspected foul play based on their analysis.

Convincing the doctors it was just an accident

Unfortunately, at the moment in question, Whatley couldn’t recall the events. He found himself unable to challenge the doctors about it, even though he had the strong feeling that he would never have done such a thing.

Initially, I thought my psychologist was just okay. However, upon getting to know him, I realized he was truly exceptional. Yet, at first, I found his intense questioning about my suicidal thoughts off-putting, as if he was trying to coax a confession out of me.

Various explanations were proposed as to why the incident occurred, yet nobody recognized that the window had been shattered for weeks. Since I was in the hospital, my mother hadn’t noticed it either, as she wasn’t home. Consequently, doctors questioned me about numerous psychological disorders I might have. Was it a suicide attempt? Was it a psychotic episode? But none of them were accurate. That was quite a challenging time for me because I couldn’t recall the window being broken. So I wondered, ‘Could I be depressed and not aware of it? Could I be suicidal without realizing it? Could I be experiencing a psychosis?’

Instead of focusing on traditional methods of diagnosing psychosis that primarily assess symptoms such as hearing voices, seeing visions, or receiving commands, it’s important to note that I did not display any signs indicative of psychosis. Although my mental state was severely impacted during my hospitalization, the depression I experienced did not manifest in ways typically associated with psychosis.

Over these past few days, I found myself confined within the walls of a psychiatric facility. The medical professionals were uncertain about my mental condition following my awakening, thus leaving me in this setting for several weeks.

I was housed in a male-only ward, specifically designed for those suffering from brain injuries. Let me clarify, this isn’t a place you’d hope to find yourself, especially if you don’t have any brain damage. I may have minor brain damage, but my brain is functioning better than expected. However, spending several weeks in this ward with 11 other men wasn’t pleasant. There was constant shouting, especially at night as they called out for their children.

Whatley found solace during his recovery process thanks to Phreak’s patch notes summaries. In all honesty, this was a significant aid for him.

In simpler terms, Phreak is a designer for League of Legends, and he frequently creates detailed videos discussing the reasoning behind each update in the game, explaining why the development team chose to make these changes.

In his situation, confined to a hospital bed and unable to see or move much, he utilized his mother’s phone as a source of entertainment. He spent hours listening to a rundown of the Phreak patch notes for League of Legends, which happened to be the pre-season patch. This update had undergone significant changes, reworking every single item, resulting in a nearly 3.5-hour long video. Finding himself with little else to do, he immersed himself in this extensive rundown, absorbing all the information about League of Legends during his hospital stay.

Back on the solo queue grind

Currently, Whatley holds a Master rank in League of Legends, one of the most prestigious positions in the game. Despite their attempts to downplay their skills or claim they belong in Challenger, the truth is that Whatley ranks among the top 0.5% of players – an impressive feat given they primarily play with vision impairment and actual brain damage.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that League of Legends holds a special place in my heart. Yet, it’s not just about League of Legends for me; my affection extends beyond this particular game. You see, I play numerous video games outside of League – both multiplayer and single-player ones.

If League of Legends were to vanish tomorrow, it would undoubtedly sadden me, but my passion for gaming as a whole wouldn’t waver. I adore the virtual worlds these games create, the competitive spirit they foster, the strategic battles they present, and the emotive storylines they weave. In essence, I’m in love with the entire gaming experience.

Upon arriving home, I found myself unable to immediately dive into a game of League of Legends due to my tired and strained eyes. I was feeling drained, disoriented, and seemingly dealing with the aftermath of several drug withdrawals. Consequently, I resorted to playing various other multiplayer games or even single-player titles that were less taxing on my vision. However, I eagerly anticipated the day I’d be well enough to return to League of Legends post-hospital discharge. My excitement was palpable.

At a certain stage, Whatley figured out a method to “overlap” his blindness, by discovering strategies to shift the clotted blood within his eyes so he could work around his limited vision. This allowed him to continue climbing the ranked ladder with determination.

Streamer NoArmWhatley achieved Master rank in League of Legends, an impressive feat considering he suffered nearly fatal traumatic brain damage following a fall from a building. Remarkably, he credits his ability to “cancel animations” as a way to compensate for his blindness and gain brief moments of clear vision during gameplay.

— TopMob (@TopMob) March 21, 2025

I discovered that the blood circulates when I perform specific actions. By manipulating my body in a particular manner, I can influence the movement of the blood. Essentially, it came down to experimenting with various methods to control blood flow manually. This involved testing numerous head movements, reactions, blinking, standing up, shifting positions, tilting my head, moving it up, down, left, and right at different angles.

In the end, I chose the best strategy: Rapidly blinking my eyes and swiftly rolling them up. This maneuver seemed to lower the blood in my sight for about 4-5 seconds, providing me with clarity during a team fight, as Whatley explained.

Consequently, the accident has left some permanent impacts on Whatley. Nowadays, he finds it challenging to manage several tasks simultaneously due to a reduction in his brain’s ability to handle multiple thoughts or ideas concurrently. This is a crucial skill for those who wish to excel in games like League of Legends.

League of Legends isn’t primarily about quick reflexes; it’s about managing multiple elements and anticipating future actions. This is particularly true in teamfights where the ability to foresee a sequence of events becomes crucial. It seems I find Chess more challenging too, as I have difficulty planning several moves ahead. This makes League more demanding for me because my ability to think ahead has diminished, which can be frustrating.

In spite of widespread negative opinions about League, Whatley persistently pushed himself to continue playing, aiming to conquer the mental barriers he faced. Contrary to popular belief that League is associated with a toxic community and frequent frustration among players, he found motivation in the challenge rather than focusing on defeats.

Having experienced some of life’s toughest times due to League of Legends, Whatley found himself particularly passionate towards individuals persistently playing the game yet perpetually expressing dissatisfaction with it.

When some people say they can’t stand League, that it’s the worst game ever, and that despite their dislike for it, they find themselves addicted to it, I often think to myself, ‘If you truly believe the game is so bad, why waste your time playing it for ten games a day?’ If it doesn’t bring you any joy or satisfaction, perhaps it’s best to move on and find something more enjoyable.

Staying optimistic

What intrigued me most during my conversation with Whatley was the way he’s maintained such an upbeat attitude through these challenging times. After all, if he managed to bounce back from that fall and continue excelling as a top-level player, that would be noteworthy – but it’s his unique approach to fame that really caught people’s attention.

Instead of merely existing, Whatley is not only defying death but also leveraging it to boost his career. Rather than dwelling on his injuries, he humorously ranks them. Instead of viewing his near-blindness as a hindrance, he finds ways to conquer it and crafts an even more compelling story from the experience.

Despite the awfulness of the ordeal, he’s remarkably turning lemons into lemonade. Most folks wouldn’t possess the resilience to look at things like Whatley does. So, we wonder, what secret sauce has him not just surviving, but thriving again?

Well, this isn’t the first traumatic event he’s had to go through.

At the beginning of 2020, I had my very first girlfriend, and I traveled to meet her. Everything was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, she passed away.

Up until now, Whatley had always perceived his life as remarkably fortunate and blessed.

I distinctly recall discovering the lifeless body of my first girlfriend, and that experience was incredibly challenging. For approximately six months, I was almost paralyzed with shock. I was utterly devastated and disoriented. However, I eventually emerged from this state transformed. I became a stronger individual, but at the cost of some of my kindness and empathy.

After that, he experienced several health issues, including persistent kidney stones which required numerous operations, ones he says were more challenging than his fall in many aspects. In 2023, Whatley’s father passed away. Initially winning against cancer, he was later diagnosed with Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest types of cancer known. Unfortunately, doctors didn’t identify this until his father had a stroke.

He instructed me on the art of communication; he was incredibly verbose, articulate, and humorous. He was well-read, always eager for discussions and brainstorming new concepts. His influence has significantly shaped who I am today, guiding me to develop and articulate my own thoughts. In essence, life is all about this process. However, fate cruelly took away his ability to speak, leaving him with Aphasia – a condition that prevents the organization of words in one’s mind. He was left speechless, which I found deeply unfair.

Six months later, following his passing, an unfortunate incident occurred in my life. It felt as if fate was particularly cruel; if only I could find some respite.

As a gamer, I once questioned Whatley about how his recovery from injuries had impacted him. However, in his words, it didn’t seem to have changed him much.

I’ve faced harder times before, and I’ve come out stronger each time. Instead of focusing on my setbacks, I’m determined to continue growing and thriving as a creative professional.

The transformation I was expected to undergo due to the trauma – specifically, the idea that tough experiences make you stronger and more resilient – seems to me that I had already experienced it before this incident. Prior to the accident, it appeared that I had been educated about the world’s inherent unfairness and life’s cruel injustice.

I don’t believe the accident altered who I am fundamentally. I am content with my identity as it stands. Let’s move on from discussing past events, maybe avoiding any new traumas for a while? A year without such experiences would be most welcome.

Whatley closed with this:

In simpler terms, when you express joy through laughter, others often share in your happiness. Conversely, when you’re sad or hurting, it may feel like you’re alone with your pain. This is a common saying. If someone asked you if they have the right to be upset, hurt, traumatized, depressed due to their experiences, you would likely agree that they do. However, I don’t wish to wallow in these feelings forever, though I understand the need for some time to process them.

Indeed, it’s quite fascinating that we find ourselves in this conversation, isn’t it? You wouldn’t be engaging with someone who was consistently downhearted and uninspiring, would you? You wouldn’t have the slightest interest. However, perhaps you might feel a touch of empathy, thinking, ‘Oh, what a pity,’ but you wouldn’t be here for an interview, would you? If I were a person constantly dwelling in sadness, despair, and tears. The very fact that you’re present suggests one of the reasons I am who I am. There’s no worth in being anything other than vibrant and expressive.

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2025-03-28 23:20