High School Wrestler with Rare Disease
Watch the video as well
http://www.people.com/article/colin-leypoldt-fahrs-disease-wrestling-state-tournamentHigh School Wrestler with Rare Disease Lives Dream of Competing in State Championship
Colin Leypoldt is a wrestler, and wrestlers don't quit.
So when the Colorado-based Berthoud High School freshman was diagnosed with a life-threatening neurological disorder called Fahr's syndrome about four years ago, he wasn't going to let that stop him from achieving his dreams.
"My goal is to be a high school state wrestling champ and no disease is going to keep me from that," he told KUSA.
Despite his significant health struggles, Leypoldt, who has been wrestling since he was 6 years old, ended up qualifying for the state meet this year, which begins Thursday.
"I worked hard and always pushed myself to be better. I wanted to wrestle in the biggest, toughest tournaments and even though I didn't always win, I learned something and kept trying," Leypoldt wrote in his online journal in 2012. "Wrestling was teaching me more than just how to wrestle but also how to be a gracious, humble man."
"Wrestling has saved his life," Wendy Leypoldt, Colin's mom, told KUSA.
Colin's not the only one in his family to suffer from Fahr's, which causes abnormal calcium deposits in the brain. His younger brothers, Brock and Dawson, also have the exceptionally rare disease that causes them to have trouble walking and talking. The Leypoldts are only the 31st family in the world to be diagnosed with the disease, per KUSA.
Colin has some bad days, with 70 or more seizures. He can't walk or think right sometimes, and his hand and foot lock up from time to time. Doctors tell him the disease will eventually kill him.
But wrestling brings him much-needed joy, and a welcome purpose and distraction from his medical realities.
"I will stand on the world stage like Jordan Burroughs and wear my medal proudly for wrestling has taught me to be a fighter and to never give up even when the future looks the bleakest," Colin wrote in his journal entry.
"I will never give up, I will never lose hope in a cure, I will never stop inspiring others to do the impossible," Colin also wrote. "Defy all odds, set your goals and dream big. It will take hard work, dedication, persistence and skill but wrestling has already taught me all those things!! The rest is easy!!"