WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — Legendary wrestler Dan Gable once said, "once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy."
That may not always feel true for a high school wrestler from White Bear Lake, who is gearing up for the toughest match of his life.
Gabe Kessel will be a senior this fall. Back in April, he wrestled his way to second place in a tournament, fighting through discomfort.
“I was having this horrible headache,” Gabe Kessel recalled.
The next day, his vision became blurred and Gabe’s family brought him to the doctor. Concerns of dehydration turned into a much more serious diagnosis: A Diffuse Midline Glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer with no known cure.
“Just showed up with cancer,” Gabe said.
“You just don't see it coming,” Joe Kessel, Gabe’s father said. "The news hit us like a sledgehammer. It was a complete blindside.”
Gabe has started radiation and chemotherapy, while his family has sought out experimental treatments.
“His prognosis is is not good,” Joe shared. “The life expectancy is 8 to 12 months.”
Still, Gabe has responded well to treatment, with one recent scan showing his tumor has shrunk.
“I'm just going with the flow of everything,” Gabe said. “I hate surgery. It's always been a big fear of mine, but I don't really have a choice anymore.”
For now, he is focusing on making the most of his senior year.
“I don't let cancer get to my daily life,” Gabe said “I still run. I still work out.”
While his condition has put the brakes on competing, Gabe has taken on a new role with White Bear Lake’s wrestling team: assistant coach.
“His coaches are keeping him part of the program, even if he can't be on the mat competing,” Gabe's dad explained. “He's working with the Junior Varsity team and he's doing everything he can to give back what he can.”
“I won't let cancer just make me sit at home doing nothing and just waiting for treatments and stuff,” Gabe added, reflecting the determination he was known for on the mat. “I will live my life the way I want to.”
White Bear Lake's wrestling coach has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Gabe’s family with the cost of medical care. Click here if you'd like to donate.