Off The Mountain – Sunday
This is the start of the third day since we came off the mountain. I’m finally starting to feel semi-normal. The first two days I had trouble getting out of bed, I hadn’t really slept in two weeks, and getting out of the shower–I finally exited when the plastic deck chair used started to lose integrity. On the mountain I just pushed through everyday. The pain didn’t really register until I stopped. With that pain comes the significance of my effort. My nose is peeling. My lip is split and still painful especially to toothpaste. I have a persistent tickle cough from the exploding dust on the mountain. But, the muscle and joint pain is starting to subside. For the first two days I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. My wrists felt almost fused. It seemed like someone had hit me across the back of the shoulders with a baseball bat. I pushed at a quarter speed looking like the delicate brand new spinal cord injury that I still remember being. It felt like the residual of a marathon, tons of early season intervals, and being sick to the point that my face was puffy, my mind was foggy, and all I wanted to do was sleep.
My experience might have been extreme for the rest of the team, but they all worked so hard on the mountain, doing their jobs meant that thru climbed many sections of the mountain more than once and often at pressing speed, that I think they’re all feeling it a bit more than their showing, which is a testament to their collective resolve since we didn’t stop after we left the mountain.
Early the first morning we visited Mobility Care to meet the first three recipients of Mobility Revolution’s wheelchair donation. One individual was unable to make it, but the other two confirmed our efforts.
Zachariah received a three-wheeled handcycle constructed by Mobility Care. A couple years ago he had osteomyelitis in his hip which affected bone density in his hip and femer. Instead of being an isolated malady his whole body has been affected. Getting around exclusively for years gives him the look that his neck and wrists have been fused. He has to turn his whole torso to look at you. His hands almost look like those of a quadraplegic even though he didn’t tell us of any nerve damage. We hope that with the handcycle he will use more muscles and give his wrists and neck a bit of a break as he pedals around Arusha selling vouchers for cell phone minutes.
Nine year old Masufu had a heart breaking story. He has kidney failure and there are only two dialysis machines in all of Tanzania (as we’ve been told). He has lost one leg of the kidney failure already and his body looks painfully swollen. To pressure the family even more, his father died ten days before we met him. As he sat in the chair for the first time, I asked him what he wanted to do. He said that he wanted to go to school. Why? Because he wanted to become a doctor–specifically a pediatrician because they work with children.
Later in the day we did a press conference for Tajiri with seven members of the Tazanian press.
- Chris
11 comments11 Comments so far
This is what it is all about. The stories of Zachariah and Masufu are heart-wrenching. It’s great that One-Revolution can help. I’m happy you are starting to recover from your huge effort and then you’ll have a long flight…Love, Mom & Jw
So cool. So happy you can help make a difference for people like Zachariah and Masufu. Proud to be your friends.
“You rock, dude!”
Hope you get well-deserved rest and savor your accomplishments.
(Dad’s stories and photos are great, and we’re happy to have him here and learn from him a little about your amazing journey.)
Love,
Jake and Alec (and our mom)
An amazing journey, Chris! You are truly an inspiration, not only because of the remarkable feat of conquering Kili, but for the very real “difference” you have made, and will no doubt continue to make, in the lives of others. We are all very, very proud of you!
xo
Carol, Art, Kurt & David
Congratulations to you and your team, Chris! Outstanding job. I still remember our conversation over two years ago in Breckenridge about climbing Kilimanjaro. You are one of the few people I know who took a dream and made it a reality.
The work you’re doing with Zachariah, Masufu and others turns your inspirational effort into a legacy. Perhaps now your descriptor will move from your People magazine fame to this contribution and leadership position or at least move that infamous title to an addendum
Also want you to know that you provided some inspiration to me and Traci Foster. We were almost committed to doing the Bataan Death March but hadn’t signed the deal. I saw one of the photos of your climb, sent it to Tracie and said, “we can do this!”
Rest, relax and recover,
Warm wishes,
Carol
Your humility shines through when you share the slight disappointment of not covering that 100 feet near the top on your own power.
Grassho
chris,
congratulations. what’s next?
– josh
I am sure there are many more similar stories. I know you will continue working hard on this part of your dream, giving wheelchairs to the needy
Roni Sue
We are so proud to know you. You rock Keep up the good work
Matthew and Halia Bower
Good job Chris. Get some rest, and keep up the good work.
Fatimoh
Chris,
Sally and I are so very proud of you. What wonderful things you are doing to help your fellow man not to mention the personal gains. Keep up the great example…
George & Sally
Are you ever going to climb another mountain?