Wind Song Journal

Denise, thank you for your lovely note! It has been quite a year. One of my most vivid memories was waking up in the ICU with new lungs, waving to all the doctors and nurses, and furiously writing notes to my friends, excited to be alive. This was followed by a difficult two-week hospital stay of no sleep, sweating in bed, and dramatic mood swings…and kind visits from family and friends. Then came the rigorous schedule of daily hospital appointments, nutritious, gourmet meals prepared by my mom, and an ambitious self-motivated rehab program consisting of first walking, then climbing hundreds of flights of stairs…usually with Dave by my side. I took many long nature walks with my mother, too. At 3 months post-transplant, it was back to the hospital again, for a visit to the ICU, two months in bed with nausea, plus a second surgery…and various friends and family visiting. Those visits were really memorable. Then I started a second recovery, a bit slower than the first, gradually getting back into active life again. The most wonderful thing about this recovery was getting back into climbing again, and being able to spend time with friends at the gym. The setback left me with 50% lung capacity, enough to do daily activities but limiting in sports. The year has had its ups and downs, and Tuesday I was taken out to Thai dinner to celebrate the one-year milestone. Carrie, Richard, Joshua, Yuri, Dave and Lorraine shared this special day. On this Thanksgiving day, I am thankful to my donor, for giving me new life. I am also grateful to my mother and Dave for taking such good care of me after the transplant, and to all the thoughtful climber friends who visited me, or donated to my medical fund. I am glad my transplant friends have made it through the first year (30% don’t!) I am thankful to my cousin Brenda, who provided a beautiful, delicious Thanksgiving meal and a lovely gathering with my Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Ron, too. Stacey, from Belmont

Here is an announcement about the Dec. 4th Climb-a-thon, a very important community fund-raiser. It is a celebration of my first year of life after the transplant and the main source of raising the thousands of dollars in medical funds I will need for next year. Plus, it will be lots of fun and you can get great deals on clothing and gear at the silent auction! If you are unable to attend, but interested in sponsoring a climber, please let me know! There are many climbers who need sponsors and will not be able to participate without your help. Join us for the 3rd Annual Mt. Everest Challenge! We are looking for a team of 29 climbers to climb over 1001 feet each to reach a team goal of 29,035 feet. It is a fun event to help Stacey raise funds, celebrate her first year of living after the critical double-lung transplant, and raise awareness about organ donation and the rare lung disease she had before the transplant (LAM.) What: A climb-a-thon, silent auction, and movie featuring world-renowned Hans Florine and Scott Cory, who climbed El Cap at age 11. Date: Sunday, Dec. 4th, 2005. Climbing will be from 2-5 p.m. Dinner and movie to follow. Where: Planet Granite Belmont Gym, 100 El Camino Real (www.planetgranite.com) Cost: Registration is free for PG members. Day pass required for non-members. Adults, $17. Students, $9. How to do it: 1)Contact Stacey at [email protected] to get registration materials 2) Gather a minimum of $100 in sponsors and collect pledges 3) Bring money to get great deals on cool gear and clothing at the auction. 4) Climb on Dec. 4th! Proceeds will benefit a special fund for Stacey’s medical bills at the National Transplant Assistance Fund. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, please contact Stacey at [email protected], or 650-776-8629. Stacey, from Belmont

It has been a tough week. I have had a hard time sleeping and making it to morning classes. Tuesday, I even threw up in the car after class and spent the rest of the day resting in bed. It was unpleasant to think of all the computer lab homework I am getting behind on and mid-terms to study for, plus the pressure of organizing the up-coming climb-a-thon on Dec. 4th. (I do not understand how chronically sick people can succeed at everyday ambitions.) Wednesday, I felt better, made it to class, and in the afternoon I met a new friend named Jessica for climbing. We had a really great time getting to know each other. Jessica is a strong and graceful climber, and showed me a new 5.11a that I had not tried before. Although I had to rest twice, I did make it to the top! I also tried the other 5.11a I have been practicing, and ALMOST made it clean except for one disappointing slip of the foot. Although I am still struggling on overhangs, I am pleased to be working on climbs at this level. I seem to be able to climb the routes that require more technique than power and strength. I was not sure I would be able to climb at a reasonable level after the transplant, and I feel things are improving. It feels great and has helped my spirit., Stacey, from Belmont

Yesterday, I attended Planet Granite’s “Cranberry Crank” climbing competition and the “Dyno for Dollars” benefit. It was wonderful to be part of the community. I didn’t feel strong enough to compete, so I volunteered to sell cookies at the youth team bake sale instead. We broke $100 as the awards ceremony finished up. Climbing competitions bring back great memories. It was fun to see the kids that I used to coach (from Team Twisters)climbing strong these days. They range in age from 11-17 now, and have two more years of experience under their belts. I watched many of them do very impressive moves and it made me happy. The Cranberry Crank was well-organized and fun. Over 70 climbers registered. It attracted some top climbers, such as young pro Scott Cory and up-and-coming Joshua Levin(age 11.) The “Dyno for Dollars” benefit went well, too! Most of the youth team members and a few adults had a try at this exciting contest. Cindy Chiu sponsored five climbers to jump, much to their delight. Brett Ashton impressed the crowd with his double-dyno jump, which ended on a hold at least 20′ from the ground! I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the staff of Planet Granite for putting on a great comp and sponsoring the entertaining benefit. I felt very honored! Stacey, from Belmont

Angeli, thanks for your message! I am glad your little son is doing well these days. I will be the new editor for the TRIO newsletter (Transplant Recipients International Organization)and was wondering if you are familiar with that club. I hope to see you around the gym soon! Felix, nice to hear from you again. I am sure the Colorado folks will not let you forget about climbing. I have heard that the Spot in Boulder is a great gym. It was a good weekend. Eva kept Dave and me well-fed, cooking us dinner on both Saturday and Sunday nights. (We are spoiled.) Distressed about gaining weight, I spent the weekend gathering things to cook with…a Japanese cookbook, a tea kettle, and a baking dish. Monday, I prepared a quick spinach and potato soup. (It was one of those free samples at Trader Joe’s…I liked it so much I immediately bought all the ingredients to make it, which they had conveniently displayed nearby. I’m a real sucker for taste-strategy marketing.) Dave was so happy he had it before and after climbing! Tonight, it will be potstickers, bok choy, and rice. The trick for me and my friends is to actually find time to both eat and climb at night. It takes real discipline and time management. DYNO FOR DOLLARS EVENT This Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. there will be an exciting benefit for my medical fund called “Dyno for Dollars.” It is a jumping contest in which each climber starts with his or her hands on a lower hold, crouches down, and using powerful legs, then leaps for a higher hold to catch it, hanging in mid-air above the ground. Some climbers can jump a full body length! Double dynos can be up to 25′! For more information, click on the “Events” page of this website. In April of 2003, I was in a dyno contest in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a show after the biggest bouldering comp in the world, the PBC. My friend Corrine and I won a raffle to participate along with professional climbers such as Chris Sharma and Lisa Rands. It was exciting because it was set up on a stage in front of crowd of at least 500 people. I was feeling really nervous because dynos are obviously not my forte…being under 5 feet tall, I have to jump to holds most climbers can reach without even stretching. I recruited the help of my friend Abby Watkins…she gave me some good advice, and then I was on my own! I was relieved that the route-setters set up the wall so there were some holds that were reasonable for me. Even so, when it was my turn, I kept missing! Then the announcer, in an effort to be funny, revved up the crowd and asked them to make monkey noises for moral support. I closed my eyes, concentrated on Abby’s advice, listened to the obnoxious noise in the background, and jumped. Voila! It worked. I caught the hold and swung proudly four feet off the ground. Stacey, from Belmont