Feature: Indestructible

Steve Virgen

The life expectancy of an average person with Cystic Fibrosis is

just under 30 years, but Newport Aquatic Center’s Sam Couch is not an

average person with CF. Nor is he an average person.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the typical CF patient because of my involvement

in sports,” said Couch, a 27-year-old who graduated from Newport Harbor

High in 1992 before earning degrees at Orange Coast College and UC

Irvine. “I was actually a poster child for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

and they were a little bothered when I showed people my medals from

winning (kayak) races. CF has always made me push harder. I wouldn’t try

to use it as an excuse for anything. I just want to push through it and

not let it affect me at all.”

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease which affects tissues that

produce mucus, causing lung infection and vulnerabilities to illnesses,

including bronchitis and pneumonia.

People with CF must take medication frequently, sometimes daily. Couch

has to receive antibiotics intravenously two-to-three times a year.

Yet, his canoe and kayak training regimen has actually resulted in his

good health. Because of the exercise, Couch is a unique person with CF.

Life expectancy is not a factor in his life. In fact, he didn’t know the

life expectancy of an average person with CF.

“When I was 9 years old, a lot of my friends passed away,” Couch said.

“I really didn’t think too much of how I would do in life. But as time

went on I started to work and be more healthy. And now that I’m healthy,

I don’t know about the life expectancy, because I don’t really think

about it.”

Instead, Couch finds himself in the prime of life. He is training for

the Catalina Channel Outrigger Crossing which is Sept. 8-9.

“It’s about a four- to five-hour race,” Couch said. “I’ve done it

before, six times, or maybe seven, I don’t remember.”

Couch will be the steersman in a six-man canoe in the race from

Catalina Island to the Newport Dunes. He has been competing since 1989

and the Catalina race is sure not to be his last.

“(Couch’s) biggest strength is his determination,” said Billy

Whitford, a close friend and the NAC’s executive director. “He has some

kind of drive beyond what most people are driven by. He knows he has an

obstacle and you never hear him talk about it. He never uses it as an

excuse. It’s just something few people know about. I have never heard him

ask for special treatment. That’s not in his mentality.”

Aside from training, Couch works as the outriggers director for the

Project PRIDE (Parks and Recreation Inspire Dignity and Esteem) program,

an outreach that targets inner city and at-risk youth.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Couch trains 15 children, ages 12

to 18, to canoe and kayak. He has helped the group raise money to take

their annual trip to Hawaii Aug. 14-21. In Hawaii, they will compete in

the Duke race.

The PRIDE’s outriggers group will also compete in the U.S. Canoe Kayak

Nationals, July 31-Aug. 4. At this point of the year, Couch is

fine-tuning his athletes, whom started with no experience.

Couch also serves as a strong influence for the children, though they

are unaware of his CF.

“He’s always been a role model,” said Edith Orduno, who started in the

program eight years ago and now works as Couch’s assistant. “He’s always

taught us not to give up and to be the best, to show people we can do

whatever we want.”

Said Juan Romero, a 16-year-old PRIDE member: “I’ve learned a lot from

him in kayak. I never knew anything about it. He taught me how to be

better in the sport. He’s one of the best coaches that I have ever had in

any sport that I’ve played in.”

This summer the NAC named a new canoe after Couch. As part of

tradition, the canoes are given a name and a blessing, Whitford said. The

NAC dedicated alakai, which means someone special to follow, to Couch.

Couch alakai indeed.