Christian Goodpastor

[fishbum]

For some of you this name is familiar. For some it is one you do not know.
About 8 years ago I met Christian who wanted to write a regular report on Bow Fishing in Indiana. We worked it out and Christian wrote the report for almost a year before he stopped. I wrote asking about the report only to find out that Christian was in need of a Double Lung Transplant. Several of you out there helped to raise money for the transplant and we had a fishing tournament on Barren River Lake to benefit Christian. Not sure why but I believe we picked a bad weekend and only about 6 boats showed up.
Still Christian got his transplant and later began to work at Bass Pro Shops.
Last week on my second day at BPS, I found out that Christian is back in Duke Hospital with Lung Rejection problems due to cancer. At this time he has decided not to have another transplant. I hope that whether or not you are a believer, you will say a few prayers for Christian who was a contributor to this website, and a very enthusiastic sportsman.
Jim Dicken

[Fisherjoe]

Christian is my neighbor and frequent fishing partner. I had not been able to reach him, or his mom, for a couple weeks so I got a hold of his stepdad. Christian is in pretty bad shape as of last week. He has an infection in his lungs that the doctors have not been able to ID or clear. His lung function is down to 15% (it was 22% when he received his first transplant). He needs another transplant, but it cannot be done until the infection is eradicated. He is literally between a rock and a hard place right now. His mom has moved to NC to be with him. Christian has been in the hospital since sometime in Sept if memory serves. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

[cra97]

If you decide to have another fundraiser, or take donations, please let us know and I am SURE more people WILL come to help support he family. I would suggest doing a 25% payout, 75% to the mother (Lord knows that HAS to be costing her a fortune) to help her be with her son in a time of need. I will ask my wife to put Christian on our prayer list at church. May God bless him, his family and friends in their time of need.

Rob

[DJD]

I'll say a prayer as well. That's a tough situation sorry to hear it. God Bless

[Dave Stewart]

Sorry to hear about Christian..prayers out here for him and his family.

[XtremeAngler]

Hello friends,
This is christian himself. I got word of a thread on here and searched it out a couple days ago. Here is an update.
First and foremost thanks to each of you for your prayers and wishes, as I have always said they mean the most. Its been a hard time for the last couple months and now I'm about out of time. With your prayers and support, it makes these times easier for both my family and myself. Prayer is a powerful thing!
Many of you have probably heard of my name. I use to report on the ohio river here on fishin.com, wrote articules for the Redbone journal, courier journal, spanishflytv, indiana conservation afield and many others. I've been very fortunate to have fished with some of the best in the world, and the OLN network named me All-Time Couragious 25 #19 in 2004. While I'm paying with my life for the disease I was born with back in 1984, my life has been great, and without having to have fought to see another day my whole life, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I'd like to think as I'm leaving this world by my articles and those whom knew me the closest, maybe I made a diffrence in someones life. Weither its one person or 1000, I can rest easy with that fact.
What I'm trying to say is even though my life story has been one of up's and down's (primarily down's) there is no reason to feel sadend by what's happening now. Yes, its hard. But by good friends like you I'd rather my final days be ones of happy memories rather than the sad. Does this make since?
As of the moment I'm sitting in a hospital bed at UNC. Reading through the Ohio River posts almost make me cry! Last year I finally fgured the river stripes out and in doing do pissing a lot of people off. How would you feel if this "seemingly" kid showed up and caught his limit of stripes for he and his buddy of solid 10lb fish. Meanwhile you where there all day! Sure, so this didn't happen everyday (I'm not that good no matter how much I let on) but I was at my prime as far as the river was concerned. But hey, that's life right! Now I sit here and read the posts by you guys and just smile! We have a great fishery right out our back door, enjoy it! Trust me, its not like that everywhere.
Back to an update of my health, I heard the rumor of cancer. Turns out I do not have cancer but very fast acting chronic rejection. Somedays I don't even leave my bed because its such a struggle, and talking on the phone is out. The doctors had planned to give me a second and final transplant although because of my declining health and scheduling delays, I haven't been able to complete all my pre-tx evals. There is a lot that goes into a successful double lung transplant and without all tests completed its no big of a risk to proceed forward.
I have two remaining tests this week but they are expected to get delayed because at the moment I am too sick to perform them. There is some hope, but we are simply running out of time.
Once again I thank each of you for taking in a stranger and sending your prayers and wishes. I cannot begin to explain what they mean to me. When I opened this page I couldn't believe it.

If you would like to know more about my life and what I'm about visit spanishflytv.com/whatup

There will be an article there wrote by me while I was in the hospital in September. It talks about my transplant, my friendship with Jose Wejebe and previews my show to air in Jan. on ESPN2.

I will keep you updated as I feel like it. Thanks again, God Bless

[DJD]

Christian,
We will keep you in our prayers. Keep the faith and God Bless.

[riverrat12]

Christian, It sounds like you and I are cut from the same cloth. The river is truly a place I go to find myself, the sounds, smell, and sites are what I hope heaven is like. I wish you the best and hope everything works out, and if not one day maybe we can meet on the other side and share some stories about the river...Prayers sent from the Anthony's...Chuck

[DYNATRAK]

christian, i pray you get better. don't give up; i admire your positive attitude in a situation none of us could imagine. i pray that you know the Lord as i do. i can't imagine anyone going through life without knowing Christ as their personal Lord and savior. He promised each of us that if we know him and give our lives to him that he has a place in Heaven for each of us. I like to think we'll all get to fish a little bit when we're up there. Just my two cents. I pray that God's grace comforts you and keeps you safe.

i don't know you, but if there's anything your family or you need, please let me know.

Nathan Cornett

[slowride]

Awesome message brother! I'll fore sure be praying for you! Cant wait to see that get on espn2 in jan.........

[trex1]

Christan came all the way from Indiana and pulled his boat, along with good friend Joe Behr to help with our Wilgreen jrs. only tournament after his transplant. He is an incredible young man and show's where his heart is by his works.
This will be our 10th. aniversary this year Christan, and it sure would be great if you can come and speak to our youth.
Anything that we or our community can do for you please, let us know. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.....

Rex Allen
Wilgreen Jrs.Event Director

[mhall]

Absolutely prayers sent. Sounds like one heck of a good young man for sure.