January 2017 – Life after Leukemia

Treacherous conditions = fun?

Training for the Kilimanjaro hike with my Climb2Cure friends has turned into quite an adventure.

The last couple of training hikes have included some difficult conditions. First, we went to Mt Monadnock (Elev 3165) in New Hampshire. If you’re unfamiliar with Monadnock, it is a massive mound of granite adorned with granite boulders of varying shapes and sizes. The day we chose to hike Monadnock snow had melted and refrozen in icy sheets of cascading death. We strapped on our micro spikes for traction and headed into the “you are about to break a bone” zone. Hiking up was a learning experience. At one point, I had my fingers wedged in stone cracks trying to pull myself up the slick surface. I made the mistake of putting my knee down. My right spikes came off the ice leaving me balancing on a slippery knee and my left foot. I thought I was about to plummet down the rock strewn slope when adrenaline kicked in and I hauled myself up onto a flat surface. Fear is an excellent motivator. Good news, I learned to keep my spikes on the ice. Bad news, going up is the easy part.

Descending the mountain was an exercise in concentration. Every steep section you had to study and pick a route. You could not relax when the going looked easy. I landed on my butt when I least expected it. There were many slips and slides. One of my teammates, Jeff, took a spill. A nasty tumble that resulted in a deep thigh bruise and an aching arm. I don’t think anyone escaped without at least one fall. Somehow, it was fun. After it was over and the cascading sheets of death had not actually claimed a life that is. I look back on it fondly. I have never had a hike quite like that before.

Well we decided to play it safe after that. We met the N.Y. Climb2Cure team at Mt. Greylock for a moderate hike to the summit. Once again, I strapped on micro spikes in case of icy conditions. The trail and the weather were beautiful. A light coat of powdery snow underfoot and a few flakes drifting down. The summit was cold and breezy, as you would expect in January. After an uneventful ascent, we decided to take a different trail down. Everything was going well until we came to the Peaks Brook Ravine. Was that on the map? How did we miss that? The trail suddenly became quite steep with a hard glaze of windblown snow. The edge of the trail gave way to a precipitous drop down to the brook. You guessed it. People started shooting off the side of the trail. Luckily, nobody went all the way to the brook thanks to the good fortune of slamming into the trees. Once we made it to the brook, we had to scrabble up the equally unreasonable slope on the other side. I kept my spikes underneath me as I had learned from the previous hike. It only took us 90 minutes to cover half a mile. We emerged bruised, but not broken.

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I am not sure everyone shared my enthusiasm. It is not necessarily fun when you are in the midst of it. Afterwards though I feel elated at the accomplishment. A little adrenaline can truly make your day. I wonder how many of my hiking companions agree. I am not going to ask; I’m fairly certain that I’m in the minority.

IMG_20170128_110948691 — Mt Greylock summit

1/2017 Climb 2 Cure Inspiration

How did this hiking Kilimanjaro concept get started? It seems a little odd doesn’t it? A bunch of people from all over the U.S. climbing a mountain in Africa to raise funds for LLS. Well, here’s the scoop.

In 2014 Lila Javan, an Acute Myeloid Leukemia survivor, was planning a solo trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. As she was about to book her flight, her cancer came back after being in remission for almost 5 years. During her months in the hospital, her friends hung a picture of Kilimanjaro on her hospital room wall. This helped inspire Lila and keep her focused on her goal to get back to being healthy and climb that mountain. The photo became a talking point for nurses, doctors and visitors during her months at UCLA. She inspired many of these people to join her for the climb when she achieved remission. Lila decided to use this as an opportunity to give back. Working with Team in Training, a fundraising division of LLS, she formed teams of climbers throughout the U.S. that train together to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The ultimate goal is raising ONE MILLION dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society mission. Donate Here: Climb 2 Cure

I find Lila’s story equally frightening and inspiring. She had the same type of leukemia as me. She endured months in the hospital. She received a stem cell transplant. So did I. She was healed and healthy and training to climb Kilimanjaro. Hey, me too. Then her fucking cancer came back. (I checked the thesaurus for a substitute for fucking. Damned was the only suggestion and that does not adequately express my thought.) She was nearly 5 years cancer free and it came back! I can’t tell you how chilling that is for me. When I finally came home from the hospital, I told Steve I could not go through that again. Lila did though. She made it through the AML protocol twice. That is truly inspiring. I guess that maybe I could if I had to.

Lila’s team from Los Angeles successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro last week. That is inspirational. She beat AML twice and summited Mt Kilimanjaro! They sent home beautiful photos. I am excited for the Massachusetts team. Training and bonding with my team has been a moving experience. We have 8 weeks left to train and fundraise. The Zombie Prom is coming up Feb 4^th. Concert in Your Living Room is Feb 18^th and right now I have to get on the treadmill. Kilimanjaro looms large in front of me. As the time gets closer, I feel the mountain towering over me.

Donate Here: Climb 2 Cure

I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in June 2015. After a grueling chemotherapy regimen I received a life saving Bone Marrow Transplant. I believe I’m cured. I’m extremely fortunate. 74% of adults diagnosed with AML will die within 5 years. That’s why I’m asking you to donate to my Team in Training fundraising page for CLIMB 2 CURE!

Thank you!

Gayle Garlick

1/2017 Is This Really Happening?

I’m leaving for Africa in about 70 days. It seems unreal. Am I actually going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa? I’ve paid the airfare and the expedition fee so I guess it’s truly happening. This is something I’ve dreamed about and now I’m doing it with a team of people. We’re all working toward a common purpose; raise money for LLS and raise awareness of blood cancers. Of course there is another goal, reach the summit. The mountain looms large in front of me. Time is flying by.

Training is going well…I think. I vacillate between confidence and self-doubt. When I’m hiking people fly by me. It doesn’t bother me too much when it’s younger kids. I know I can’t keep up with the 20 something crowd, but when they look over 40 I get a bit pissed off. I’ve been hiking and running on the treadmill and planking. Shouldn’t I be getting faster and stronger? I have to remind myself that a year ago walking 2 miles was a challenge. I hiked with my Climb2Cure group this weekend and we did 10.5 miles in 5.5 hours. I can run over 2 miles on the treadmill. I am getting stronger, but will I be strong enough by March to summit Kilimanjaro?

Fundraising is going well…I think. I waffle between feeling good about what I’ve raised and beating myself up for not doing more. I have raised a bit under $5000.00. I have a fundraising event scheduled for Feb 18 and my Climb2Cure group has a fundraiser scheduled for Feb. as well. February 4 we are holding a Zombie Prom. I’ve never heard of such a thing, but it looks like fun. The venue, Jalapeno’s in Bellingham, is donating the space. We have a DJ, Damont Batchelor, who is donating his services. I’ll be doing zombie make up. All in all, it looks like a good time and hopefully we’ll raise a bunch of money. Feb 18^th I have a classical guitarist performing at my friend Meg’s house. Dave McLellen donates his time and talent for C.I.Y.L.R(Concert in your living room). His mission is “Spreading the joy of charitable giving and the classical guitar, one living room at a time.” Very cool. It will be a slightly different vibe than the Zombie Prom I imagine.

Yup it’s happening. Will I reach my goal of $10,000.00? Will I summit Kilimanjaro? There’s only one way to tell. Tune into the next thrilling installment of Gayle’s Climb 2 Cure Adventure.

Training in the Blue Hills. That’s my butt on the right.