Most athletes take the ability to breathe clearly for granted. I have a cough and sinus congestion as I write up this blog post and I was just thinking that I should probably give up my Soul Cycle seat for tomorrow morning. The discomfort from the cold largely stems from the fact that I cant take a full breath without "coughing up a lung." Now imagine feeling like that every day of your life because that is what it is like to live with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Gunnar Esiason is the featured guest on the podcast for Episode 69 and he was diagnosed with CF at 2 years old. Gunnar is a recent graduate of Boston College, host of the "Making it Matter" podcast, and is an Advocate for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. At this point you've probably made the connection that Gunnar's Dad is former NFL quarterback, Boomer Esiason. In the beginning of our interview, Gunnar teaches us about Cystic Fibrosis, which is a terminal genetic illness that effects the respiratory system and digestive track. Gunnar says CF is not a cookie cutter disease, which means severity and symptoms can vary significantly. Like concussions, CF is an invisible illness because those affected by it more often than not look healthy. Gunnar and his parents at the dedication ceremony for the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Morristown Medical Center. Gunnar played two of the more violent sports growing up, which were ice hockey and football. During our conversation he discusses the countless obstacles athletes with CF face, especially in such physically demanding sports. For starters, breathing is difficult and is often compared to breathing through a straw. Gunnar talks about the struggle to keep up with his teammates on longer, more endurance focused activities. Another hurdle is bodyweight or lack there of. Gunnar says that he has been considered underweight by American standards his whole life and discusses the frustrations of trying to put on weight and muscle mass. Later on in the episode we talk about the recent addition of a feeding tube to his routine and how that has been a tremendous help in gaining and keeping on weight. Gunnar now tries to break down the stigma surrounding feeding tubes because it has been a game-changer for him. Despite these obstacles Gunnar never wanted to be treated any differently than his teammates nor did he want to use them as an excuse not to participate. He is grateful for his coaches and teammates knack for knowing when to push him and when to pull him back in both practice and games.
