Month: December 2005

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah! Festivities started yesterday for me. I had Mark over for lunch and made beef and asparagus stir-fry. Mark just got back from Nigeria and talked about his recent adventures, including witnessing a plane crash. Then Eva invited me over for dinner with her family. I helped her make won ton soup…mmm…so delicious! After dinner, Dave came over and we all had Howard’s special lemon cake and tea and exchanged some presents. This morning, I had a wonderful talk with my sister Denise, who enjoyed a White Christmas over in Latvia with her husband and two little girls. The girls were very excited about Santa’s visit…then Dave and I had a tasty breakfast of blueberry bagels with tomato, onion, avocado and cream cheese (yes, the doctor said I can “liberalize” my diet!) and then I set about to open a little mountain of packages from my mother. Thanks, Mom! Later in the afternoon, my Aunt Lorraine and I went to see a movie called Brokeback Mountain, a love scene between two cowboys set in Wyoming in the 1960’s. It was an interesting movie; realistic, but sad because of the struggles they faced. After the movie, Lorraine and I went out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. It was a great meal. I ordered sweet and sour pork because it was my favorite dish that my mother used to on the holidays when I was a child. Stacey, from Belmont

Last night I watched my friends David and Gwen on the Dr. Phil show. Both received double-lung transplants this year, and they met in the hospital and plan to get married soon. The show documented their lives and it is amazing the struggles they have overcome. Today, I wish everyone a happy Winter Solstice. It is the shortest day of the year, and now the days will get longer. 600 people celebrated this event in Stonehenge, England. Stacey, from Belmont

Denise, Thanks for the update on the little climber! The picture is so cute. I am busy with last-minute holiday plans. Unfortunately, I only recently got inspired. Today, I went to climb the stairs at Beckman Hall with Isa. I was pleased to do 11 sets of six flights, without too much trouble. It was such a relief that I could still do it, because I haven’t done stairs in so long. The stadium is closed because it is being re-built and the weather has been cold and rainy. Stacey, from Belmont

It was a full day at the hospital, with x-rays, the clinic visit, the PFT test and blood draw. My lung function is up a little bit, to 54%. As I was walking through the hospital, the transplant experience seemed like a dream. Did it really happen? Is it really me that this team of doctors is checking up on? All in all, they seemed satisfied with my progress. My nausea problems seem to be fading away. Stacey, from Belmont

Rhona and I got out in nature today at Waterdog Lake. It was relaxing and peaceful. The hike is only about one mile, but we took a little side trail along the lake looking for mushrooms and other edible plants. Instead, we came across some cattails and poison oak, but no mushrooms. Later, I climbed with Greg and Debbie. It was great climbing with new friends, but it wasn’t a good climbing day for me. I could not even do the start of the 5.11a I’ve been working on this month, and had to give up on a 5.10d before I got to top. Maybe I didn’t warm up enough, or eat enough… Tomorrow, I go to the doctor, and also have a PFT (pulmonary function test) plus possibly an octreotide shot. It will be a long morning at the hospital, but hopefully everything will be okay. Stacey, from Belmont

Felix, thank you for fixing up the site to keep away the spammers. Also, thank you for sponsoring Josh! I received the check today. Tori, I really like the new picture gallery. After the climb-a-thon, I had to rest up for a few days! I am now in the process of wrapping up details for the climb-a-thon, and thanking all the wonderful volunteers and climbers who helped make it a success. On December 5th, I attended a Lam support group meeting. We had the pleasure of having social worker Allyson Rupp at this meeting to facilitate the discussion. I also really appreciate the support of the Lam members at the Mt. Everest Challenge. Dec. 8th, Ana, Isa and I attended the TRIO (Transplant Recipients International Organization) holiday dinner. It was a beautiful dinner, and we all put ornaments on a tree to honor our donors. Stacey, from Belmont

Update on the Climb-a-thon: Due to scoring miscalculations, we have now determined that Joshua Levin,11, was the climber who achieved the most vertical feet in the Mt. Everest Challenge (4182′) Congratulations, Josh! Greg Schaffer,62, the second highest fund-raiser and oldest climber in the event, (he climbed 3400′)is actually setting routes for Twisters, and is no longer an owner of Planet Granite. His current project is designing a gym in Austin, which is planned to be the biggest gym in the country. Stacey, from Belmont

Felix, I really appreciate your work on the website, and sponsoring Joshua! I am looking forward to posting pictures again. Thanks to our sponsors, hard-working climbers and volunteers, and the warm-hearted climbing community, the Mount Everest Challenge 2005 was a great success. The 34 climbers lifted my spirits 42,180 feet. That’s the height of Mt. Everest(29,035 feet) and then some! It was a terrific way to celebrate my first year of life after the transplant. The donations are still coming in. So far, I know the climbers raised over $6500, including $540 towards a trip to the U.S. Transplant Games in Louisville, Kentucky, June 16-21. However, I think the grand total might be closer to $7000 or $8000 by the time everyone is done collecting from their sponsors. The Lam Foundation also raised $325 from the rope raffle and wreath sales in our search for a cure. There were 20 adult climbers and 14 kids. Planet Granite Youth Team had the highest amount of vertical footage (8648′), Twisters came in second (3800′), and the Summit Party from Touchstone came in third (3080′). I was especially happy to see members of my old team there (Joshua Levin, Blake Tacklind, Tevis Nichols, and Heather Ostrau.) Joshua Levin was the highest youth fundraiser (over $500) and youth climber with the most vertical feet (4182′) which was also second overall. PG Member Kathy Alberts was the highest fundraiser. She raised $1840 in 5 days, and had 52 sponsors. Joshua Pendergrass, from Twisters, climbed the greatest number of vertical feet (4400′) and was also the highest fundraiser from Twisters, bringing in $515. Greg Schaffer, one of the owners of Planet Granite, was the biggest individual donor ($1000.) I’d also like to thank the generous volunteers, especially special guest climbers Hans Florine and Scott Cory, who on-sighted the hardest route (13b)in the gym during the event. Their movie, “Wall Rats,” was very interesting. Jennifer Cory did a great job with the silent auction, and Sandy Ostrau did beautiful work on the t-shirts. Dave Allen, Carrie Levin, Stephanie Rowe, Robert Breyer and PG manager Lucas Marciniak, and Twisters manager Jess McCauley were all instrumental in making the event a success. Thanks also to the T-shirt sponsors: Planet Granite Climbing Gym, Twisters Climbing Gym, Medical Plaza Pharmacy, Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments, Alala Women’s Mountain Adventures, and the Original Underwhere Company. Stacey, from Belmont