Category: Random Musings

It was my housemate Dave’s birthday on Thursday, and I have been spending a lot of time with him this week. Thursday, I made chicken stir-fry with sweet rice wine (his favorite) and also organized a little birthday potluck for Friday with his best friends, Mark and Eva, at our house. Friday dinner was special…salmon marinated with lemon herb sauce, salad, rice, cous cous, sushi and birthday cheesecake. Afterwards, the three of them went climbing, but I went to bed as usual. Speaking of birthdays, today, Aug. 13th, is my niece Mia’s 1ST BIRTHDAY! Happy birthday, little one! Denise, give her a big hug and kiss for me! Stacey, from Belmont

One good thing that happened during the illness is that I have had the opportunity to spend some quality time with my friends lately. Their support is really helping me through this period of new beginning. Love is such a valuable thing. This week, I had long talks with Will and Robin as we met to exercise. They are helping me with physical rehab as well as just tackling life’s challenges. I really appreciate their help. Stacey, from Belmont

Will, thanks for meeting with me at the stadium. After talking with you, I was motivated to go to the track later and try some sprints. Much to my delight, I was able to run 100m in 20:57 seconds, not very fast but competitive enough to make it feel worthwhile to train for the Transplant Games in June 2006. My sister Denise was here visiting from Latvia (Eastern Europe) for the past three days. We had a great time talking, cooking, shopping, and taking nature walks together. On Wednesday, we had a leisurely breakfast, then had coffee with Aunt Lorraine. We took a walk along the lake, ate burritos and later went to the stadium and climbed the bleacher steps with Ana, Isa and Dave. Denise is in great shape. (She wasn’t even out of breath when she got to the top each time.) After the workout, we met Dave at home for a beef stir-fry dinner we prepared earlier in the afternoon. Thursday, our cousin Brenda took us to lunch at PF Changs, and then we all went shopping for shoes and the beginning of a business work wardrobe for me. We were surprisingly successful (shopping is not my strength, so they were my fashion guides.) After shopping, Brenda gave Denise an eye brow waxing, and then we went home and had dinner with Dave, and watched the Transplant Games video. Today, Friday, we went to the Sawyer Camp Trail and walked a mile along the reservoir. After the walk in the sun, I got sick for the first time since she arrived, but felt better after the air conditioner kicked in. Denise took me to lunch at Togo’s, and then we headed to the airport to drop her off. Dana, if you are reading this, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday today! We left a message for you earlier today, and Denise did receive your presents right before they left Latvia. Stacey, from Belmont

Well, I’ve got to push through tired days like today, and concentrate on the positive…gather the inner strength like my friend Lorma. Lorma is waiting for a heart double-lung, and is living on oxygen 24/7 right now. Even though her life is limited to a 50′ cord inside the house, Lorma still has a positive outlook. Since Lorma is new to the area, I took her and her mom on a little tour of downtown Mountain View today. Much to my surprise, the wheelchair fit nicely in my car, and we had a pleasant afternoon going about the shops. Lorna’s mom kindly treated us to lunch. Later, I went on a 20-minute walk into the hills behind my house, and cooked a eggplant-tofu dish. Dave and I enjoyed the dish over cooked wild rice that Miki had brought from Minnesota. It was a very healthy meal! Stacey, from Belmont

Saturday, Cindy and I climbed at the gym. I had been feeling tired but I went anyway. It is my job to climb and get stronger right now. I felt pleased to do a 5.10b which required a lot of balance with only one rest. I tried a 5.11a but it didn’t happen, so I struggled up another easier route. Earlier that day, I visited my friend David and took him to the library from the hometel apartments. David just had a double-lung transplant on July 7th, and he is doing really well! Congratulations, David! You have a strong and powerful spirit. Sunday, I had lunch with my cousin Brenda and Lorraine. It is always good to see them. After lunch, I went for a beautiful walk with my friends Jane and Miki. I have known Miki since high school and was thrilled to spend some time with her again! We talked about old times, and our 20th high school reunion that she just attended in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We also got caught up with our current lives from the last few years. Yesterday, I went to the Heart-Lung Picnic at the home of Ted and Betty Tight. It is for transplant patients and their friends and families. So many people are dealing with life-threatening situations, and taking it with grace. I continue to learn a lot from their courage and faith, in God, themselves, and the loving relationships between family and friends that develops throughout the tranplant waiting process and recovery. In hard times, we are all striving to maintain a positive and hopeful outlook on life. For me, it is not always easy to do this; honestly, I miss my old body, full of strength and athletic energy. At 35, I was in the best shape of my life before the decline, and my career was starting to take off. But reality is that I have to adjust to my current reality whether I like it or not. Being there at the party reminded me to be grateful for what I do have… having gotten through the transplant and my first setback alive, and as my friend Isa reminded me, going back to climbing. Stacey, from Belmont

I have been reading motivational books lately, and getting ready to set up some life and fitness goals. Yesterday, I was feeling tired most of the day, but I had a wonderful time with Robin and Isa at the stadium. We are all getting stronger. My legs don’t hurt as much climbing the steps. It is no longer a struggle to do 10 trips, at a slow pace. (Maybe next time I will go faster.) It was great talking and visiting as we did our workout. I really appreciate their friendship. Stacey, from Belmont

What an inspiration Lance Armstrong is to the world, as a cancer survivor and 7 time Tour de France winner! How exciting and dream-like to go out on top after such a come-back. I aspire to follow along the same track; to make a come-back in climbing (on a smaller scale, of course.) On Friday, my cousin Brenda came over to see the new apartment, and wax my mustache off. One of the drugs I take, cyclosporin, makes hair grow like crazy. Brenda, who is a professional esthetician, always does a beautiful job. (In case anyone is wondering, waxing does hurt. Ah, the price of beauty.) Rehab is coming along. Yesterday, I went climbing with Cindy and her friends. It was really fun because Cindy is very encouraging, and I found I could do some climbs with fewer rests this time. Last night, I had a wonderful time with Cherie, who fought Bay Area traffic for over an hour to come over for dinner at my house. We had a great time lounging on Dave’s new couch, (too much fun; it was hard to get up) cruising Safeway, and then cooking and eating chicken stir-fry. Stacey, from Belmont

I have had a hard few days, mostly due to physical tiredness. Wednesday, after a good climbing session with my friend Wesley (from my old climbing team) I headed down to the stadium to meet Ana, Isa, and Robin to climb the bleachers. I was very tired, but still managed to go up and down 10 times. I also made a new goal, 100 push-ups in sets of 10. However, both Thursday and Friday I was not feeling very well, and had to cancel going to a wedding. I have spent most of my time lately reading about career change. Yet it is still too early for a job; my health is not stable day to day.Some days I feel great and do lots of activities, other days I stay at home resting, sleeping and reading, and even cooking a decent meal is difficult. I want to keep to my task of getting well, but it is not always easy to stay focused on the present when things are going slowly. I have big dreams of climbing and having a fulfilling career. Sometimes when I am not feeling well, I start to wonder, will I ever get there? Am I just a dreamer? But as Wayne Gretzky says, “100 percent of shots you don’t make won’t enter the net.” But I am feeling better today, since I got a good night’s sleep. I will do some climbing today, and focus on what is right in my life right now…climbing, and time to have good relationships with family and friends. I guess I have more happiness than a lot of people in this busy world, and for that I should be grateful. Stacey, from Belmont

Today I am doing a lot of paperwork, paying enormous medical bills (nearly $2500) as well as personal bills. It is good to get organized and up-to-date with everything. I am nervous about raising enough funds for future medical bills and am starting to plan this year’s climb-a-thon in December. I am also hoping that people will be interested in doing more “Summits for Stacey” before winter. “Summits for Stacey” is a program that started when I fell ill in 2003. People pick a mountain or hike, and then get sponsors to climb it for the cause! All funds will go towards my medical fund at the National Transplant Assistance Fund, and they are tax-deductible. It is a fun way to help a cause and get in shape, too! (Plus, you will have my total adoration, won’t you be lucky!) Stacey, from Belmont

It has been a busy week, full of exercise and social visits. Thursday, I visited David, who just had his transplant about a week ago. He is doing well, and was even strong enough to go to the transplant support group meeting later in the afternoon. After the support group meeting, Isa and I went to the stadium to work out. Isa did 10 laps and I got 7 in that day. Isa is inspirational because she works out so hard, and she’s great company! Friday, I climbed with Rene at the gym. I worked on a big overhanging 5.10c and actually managed to get to the top with a few rests! Saturday, after breakfast with Dave, I went on a sheclimbs outdoor climbing trip to Cragmont Park in Berkeley. Eight people showed up, including Kathy, Ann-Marie, Nicole, Jess, Tiga, Parch, plus Maureen, who stopped by to see what was happening. Kathy set the anchors on “Farewell to Arms,”(5.10a) and three easier slab climbs. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed the shade at the bottom of the rocks. The natural rock felt great. I made it to the top of “Farewell to Arms” with a few rests. The holds are good, but the moves are very pumpy (requiring strength)because of the overhanging nature of the route. It is my favorite outdoor local climb, so I was glad to be able to enjoy it. This morning, I went climbing at the gym with Ami and Jim. I haven’t seen them in a few months so it was nice to spend time together. We found some interesting new routes in the gym. In the afternoon, I attended Maura Glennon’s wedding shower. It was great to meet her family and friends, and see her so happy! The wedding is on Thursday. Stacey, from Belmont