In his daily work, Mohler regularly encountered ticks and removed them from his body. In late 2022, he began experiencing fatigue and vomiting that worsened over time. When he sought emergency medical treatment in January 2023, he was later diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome after laboratory testing confirmed a positive alpha-gal panel. The condition is caused by bites from lone star or blackleg ticks and left him unable to tolerate mammalian meat products. He also experienced weight loss, slurred speech, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.