{"id":356,"date":"2006-12-19T20:22:00","date_gmt":"2006-12-20T01:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inaheartbeat.ca\/tyl\/?p=356"},"modified":"2006-12-19T20:22:00","modified_gmt":"2006-12-20T01:22:00","slug":"drama-on-the-mountain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/2006\/12\/19\/drama-on-the-mountain\/","title":{"rendered":"Drama on the Mountain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last night was an overly exciting adventure. Unfortunately I awoke at 1am <\/font>with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). We had an oximeter because we wanted to <\/font>keep track of Dale’s status. My oxygen saturation on awakening was reading <\/font>40% – sitting up and deep breathing brought it to 70%. Barry had exchanged <\/font>places with Pat and slept in my tent as I had not been feeling well after <\/font>descending from the summit attempt. I was sick to my stomach and had very <\/font>little for supper. He woke up, watched my breathing pattern and picked up <\/font>the oximeter from Pat. “You must go down the mountain, NOW”. He gave me 250 <\/font>diamox and 25 of Viagra. The camp was mobilized – Dale and Barry packed up <\/font>one tent, their gear and my essential gear and at 3am we started out. At <\/font>
this point the Viagra had started to work and my oxygen saturation had increased to 91, <\/font>though I still felt very short of breath on  exertion. We had to descend the <\/font>headwall, and I had to walk it. Stalwart Barry shortroped me down the <\/font>headwall with Dale leading the way – the patient became the rescuer.
<\/font><\/p>\n

We <\/font>arrived at Camp 1 after about 4 hours. I crashed in an ALES tent (they’re the company <\/font>that organizes Antarctic expeditions) and they had sent one of their <\/font>guides up from base camp with oxygen. Despite some improvement early on my <\/font>saturation started to drop again into the 70’s and Barry arranged for me to get <\/font>down to base camp (more Viagra and diamox). Dave (an ALES guide) and Barry <\/font>took me to corner camp, while Dale set up Camp 1 for the rest of the team <\/font>that would be descending later. At Corner Camp I was met by another ALES <\/font>guide (Alti) and strapped on some skis to make the final descent to Base C<\/font>amp.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Along the way I met the team that originally went up Vinson 40 year’s <\/font>ago – I was so exited to meet them, and they were more  worried about my <\/font>HAPE; information that had spread like wildfire through the different <\/font>camps. In Base Camp I was able to immediately board a Twin Otter and came <\/font>back to Patriot Hills. Dr. John Apps reviewed my case and I am happy to <\/font>report that apart from some residual crackles and wheezes I am just fine. <\/font><\/p>\n

Meanwhile the rest of the team is at Camp 1. They will be descending the <\/font>remainder of the mountain tomorrow and weather  permitting back here in <\/font>Patriot Hills tomorrow evening.<\/font> <\/p>\n

This has really been an incredible journey both personally and <\/font>professionally. The idea started 2 years ago and has involved a large number <\/font>of people and I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few of them.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Mr. Ian Delaney, present since the beginning when the decision to come to <\/font>Antarctica was made, who by the way was incredible on the mountain <\/font>climbing to a personal best of 3800m at Summit Camp and giving a valiant <\/font>effort to climb the last leg, funded this expedition and also was critical <\/font>in the fundraising for the Heart Failure and Transplant Program at Toronto General Hospital. He climbed <\/font>the headwall with a fully loaded pack negotiating crevasses (I am sure <\/font>similar to what he does at work) and never complained or asked for special <\/font>treatment.<\/font><\/p>\n

Barry Blanchard, a legendary Canadian climber with numerous first ascents who <\/font>was crucial for the team, but also for me personally during these last 24 <\/font>hours.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Dave Stark, the safety expert with Yamnuska guiding company and I am <\/font>happy to report we are all safely off the most difficult  sections of the <\/font>mountain.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Both Dave and Barry are wonderful, entertaining professionals who<\/font> I would climb with again any time any place.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Pat Murphy, a rock on the <\/font>mountain, always positive and upbeat and another woman to share some unique <\/font>female aspects of mountaineering.
<\/font><\/p>\n

Yanick, for his delight in drama and <\/font>ability to carry a camera anywhere.
<\/font><\/p>\n

The Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation who’s members have <\/font>been willing at all times of day\/night to assist in every way possible and I <\/font>must thank all – but especially Stuart and Krista. Alex R has made all of <\/font>our wishes come true with media exposure for the trip – Alex you rock!
<\/font><\/p>\n

Lina <\/font>Chiodo for her fundraising and general support – bella with great thanks. <\/font><\/p>\n

Gary Levy for his undaunting support.<\/font> <\/p>\n

But mostly I want to thank Dale for being the best ambassador a woman could <\/font>ask for to raise awareness for organ donation and transplantation. As we <\/font>stood so close to the top that Dale, who was feeling strong, could easily <\/font>have made it, never suggested that he go on without the team he said he was<\/font> so happy with what had already been accomplished – he is truly a team <\/font>player. I enjoyed becoming close friends with Dale and seeing the look in <\/font>his eyes as he helped in my rescue last night. He and all my many other <\/font>
patients, who they are and what they do, are what I love about my job.<\/font><\/p>\n

Thank you to all who read the blog and left us comments. Imagine if you <\/font>will -30, in your tent with me calling out the blogs to everyone and all of <\/font>us sharing and laughing, at the stories. It really helped us stay connected <\/font>with home and also build our team spirit.<\/font> <\/p>\n

I do promise to update re: flights as there remains a diminishingly small <\/font>chance we will be home for Christmas – but the official blog is now over. As <\/font>Aaron Knox said – everyone out there please – “live life, test your limits, <\/i><\/font><\/font>climb a mountain”.<\/font><\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Heather Ross (me) and Dale Shippam, near the summit of Mt. Vinson Massif.<\/b>
<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last night was an overly exciting adventure. Unfortunately I awoke at 1am with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). We had an oximeter because we wanted to keep track of Dale’s status. My oxygen saturation on awakening was reading 40% – sitting up and deep breathing brought it to 70%. Barry had exchanged places with Pat … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Drama on the Mountain”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1],"tags":[15,23],"class_list":["post-356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-2006-category","category-updates","tag-antarctica","tag-blog-2006"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uhnfdn.ca\/tyl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}