This story is about good luck, and bad luck.
It's about having everything, and having nothing--and how life can change in a flash.
It's about two men -- one who is now very famous -- and another who might have been.
News Specialist Stacey Butler has a story we are calling, "The Best Thanksgiving."
It's the best Thanksgiving for these two men, even though one is on top of the world, and the other is struggling to stay alive.
What they've been through in the last year carries an important lesson for both men, and for all of us -- its what the word "thanks," is really all about.
Behind every great hero there is always a mentor..
one who can read the hero's heart.
"HE'S BEEN KIND OF AN INSPIRATION TO ME."
One who stays behind the scenes,
and says just the right words at the right time.
"HE TALKED ABOUT HIS OLYMPIC DREAMS AND DESIRES AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT POINT THAT I COULD EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING THERE."
Olympic gold wrestler Rulon Gardner is just such a hero. And his mentor is Dave Draney.
Dave-- A Star Valley, Wyoming local who had no idea that he was Rulon's inspiration.
Himself, a gifted decathalete, who was on his way to the Olympics when cancer took part of his spine, his lung, intestines, ribs and his leg above the hip.
Dave Draney: "I SLEEP A LOT BETTER AT NIGHTS KNOWING I TRIED AND I'LL NEVER SAY I COULD'VE OR WOULD'VE OR MAYBE."
Rulon Gardner: "I'D RATHER HAVE DONE WHAT I'VE DONE THAN BEEN WHAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH."
"IF I COULD GIVE HIM ANY OF MY STRENGTH, OR MY ABILITY, OR PHYSICALLY IF I COULD GIVE HIM ANYTHING, I WOULD."
Stacey Butler/Eyewitness News: "IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE IN THE STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GYM, WITH A CONVERSATION. DAVE-THEN-THE HOMETOWN HERO TOLD RULON HE COULD DO IT. RULON SAYS HIS WHOLE LIFE CHANGED WITH THOSE FOUR WORDS."
"BE MINDFUL OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU'RE AT AND WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL LISTEN."
If this humble giant is right, then every word, every action creates a ripple.
And every moment matters.
"YOU CAN'T SIT THERE AND THINK 'NEXT YEAR I'M GOING TO TRY HARDER, NEXT YEAR I'M GOING TO DO THIS.' NEXT YEAR MAY NOT BE HERE."
For Rulon Gardner, Dave Draney has been there all the way.
Four months ago, Rulon Gardner wasn't sure he was going to make it to Sydney -- money was short.
Dave Draney, himself heavily in debt, donated his best fly fishing rod to raise money for Rulon Gardner.
The rest is history.
Now, the river is making another turn.
Rulon is returning the favor.
He will autograph and sponsor 286 fly fishing rods crafted by Dave-- sporting the American and Russian flags -- a collectors item which could raise a lot of money -- money Dave and his family needs. He is more than $120,000 in debt from the cancern treatments.
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR, WELL DONE."
It has been said that life is like a river.
When you least expect it,
it twists and turns and you are never, ever the same.
"I GUESS THAT'S JUST THE WAY LIFE IS. YOU CAN NEVER SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BEST YOU CAN'T."
Rulon has learned there are two times in a man's life when true friends are hard to find--
when you're down, and when you're as good as Olympic gold. Dave's been there both times.
"HE'S BEEN FISHING WITHOUT A FLY, MAN!HA HA HA!" "HEY! DON'T BE FILMING THIS!"
"SEIZE EVERY MOMENT, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO GUARANTEES YOU'LL HAVE IT TOMORROW."
The experts tell Dave Draney his chances of beating cancer aren't good.
But, you'll remember, some other experts didn't give Rulon Gardner much chance of winning a gold medal, either.
Additional Information:
The fly fishing rods referred to in this Special Report range in prices. The Olympic edition is priced at $2,500. For more information, contact Dave Draney at 307-886-3800.
