Climb Kilimanjaro

After two kidney transplants, I thought my athletic options were severely limited. These problems had been going on for a long time, receiving my first transplant from my mother in 1990 at age 20 and my second in 2014 after my cousin sustained a head injury following a tragic accident. Unfortunately, my femoral artery was damaged during the second transplant, meaning that I needed to get a bovine graft to repair the damage. I was under constant monitoring following that, and to stay active, I walked two blocks to have my labs drawn every day. Still, that wasn’t all: after vascular surgery to save my leg, I was barely able to keep up even with my minimal exercise routine.

 

Three years later, I can hike more than ten miles in a day. I am loving my life. Six months ago, a guy who belongs to a group I began to hike, kayak, and whitewater raft, asked our group if anyone wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I had never considered this feat possible for me, and then a few months ago, I heard of a transplant recipient who had planned to make the climb. I contacted the group and signed up. Now, however, I need to raise some funds.

 

I have come to you, friends, for help raising $5,000, which will cover all the costs of my Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. My sincere hope is that this trip will inspire other transplant recipients to see their options post-transplant more clearly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.