Unstoppable

Born in San Jose California.

Born in Montgomery Alabama.

2400 miles apart.

One intriguing.

One intrigued.

Brought together by a shared passion and a story.

I met David Cosner at the 2010 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship. Seems the longer the name the more important the tournament. My teammate and I finished 3rd. He and his finished 2nd. Both falling short while at the same time making immeasurable gains competing in the sport we both love.

I say I "met" David at the tournament. It was in passing. At the ramp. Or at a banquet. A pre-tournament meeting perhaps. Irrelevant really. Nice guy but its hard to get to know somebody in a crowd. In a hurry.

But I remember exactly where I was when I heard his story. When I read the first article about him. When I watched the National Championship playback on T.V. Watched him collapse on the back deck of the boat. Fighting just to breathe.

I'm going to tell you what he fights everyday. For those of you who don't know him. Not to pretend that I have a clue what he's been through. Nor to sum him up as a special interest topic. Something to read about, say that's impressive, then forget. I'm going to tell you what he's been through because not to would be an injustice. To him. More importantly to you. So here it is.

Wagner granulomatosis. An odd gift on your 16th birthday. Undiagnosed, a deadly disease. Doctors caught it in time. If there is a time to find out such a thing. He spent months in a hospital, took countless pills, was punctured by a thousand needles, lost two thirds of a lung and had 58 surgeries. In my 23 years I can remember only 3. Fifty-eight surgeries... so far.

Life, for most of us, is defined by the adversities we face. Adversities, for few, are defined by those who live through them.

David Cosner has done what few do. He has conquered his adversity. Made it his disease. So many of us sit around and complain about such little things. So minute. Let them run and ruin our lives. Five days from 21 David feels better now than he has in five years. He's not cured. But Wagner's does not run his life and never has. David does.

David, disease in tow, fished his heart out the last couple years. Finished Second with his partner, Jay McCollum, in the Texas Regional Championship. After leading the tournament on the second day the duo topped out at 2nd  in the national event as well. And he made the inaugural College Fishing All-American Team. Only 20 college fisherman nationwide were bestowed such an honor.

While all this was going on hundreds of thousands of Americans were lying in hospital beds, slowly giving up. David was getting IV's in a hotel room between tournament days. Everyday people across this country are fighting battles they can't win.

What's gut wrenchingly tragic are the millions of people with no physical or mental ailments. The woe-is-me types. Cursing their blessed lives when they don't get their way. I've been that guy before. I'm ashamed to admit it.

Meeting David Cosner didn't change my life. Knowing David Cosner does.

In the words of my good friend and role model, "Life's to short not to chase your dreams!"

Thank you David for what you've done for me. You have an indebted friend here whether you realize it or not. Happy early birthday.

Thank you God for the last five years of David's life and may he live to fish a hundred more.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1: 2-4)