Learning to Live - While Climbing a Mountain
Climbing Mount Shasta
I’m a long term survivor of what is considered “terminal” brain cancer. After living through 3 recurrences, 4 brain surgeries, radiation and chemo - many people ask me: How can you be so happy going through that? What is it that gives you hope and that positive attitude? Tell me what you do……
I love to share it with you because we all have something in common – we are all struggling through hard times in life. I hope you will smile and feel at peace along with me through the good, bad and ugly times in life.
The doctors told me I had less than a year to live. Four years after my diagnosis, I was still alive. I decided to climb 14,167 foot elevation Mount Shasta to celebrate! During the climb I truly became aware of the similarities between “climbing a gnarly trail” and “struggling a terminal trial”. Here are the key strategies I learned to use to successfully make it to the peak of Mt. Shasta and to live through cancer - with a smile.
OK, it takes a whole book to really describe my strategies, but I’ll try to wrap it all up in a shorter summary. You can always find my book Life’s Mountains, if you want to delve in deeper. I also put together a video/slide show to share what I learned – you can find the link at the "Brain Tumor Links" The pictures back it up!
Here are the 12 things I learned in my climb. I hope it reaches out and helps you too.
One - Prepare: To successfully make it to the peak of Mt Shasta it took preparation. I gathered gear I needed for the climb (ice axe, harness, boots with crampons) and I exercised five days a week to get physically fit. To prepare for the battle through cancer I also exercise and gather gear. Physical gear - supplements and organic healthy foods. Spiritual gear - God’s Word the Bible. It takes preparation. Some favorite spiritual gear: Ephesians 6:14-18, Isaiah 40:29-31, Roman 5:3-5, Roman 8:25-29, James 1:12.
Two - Guides are like Gold: Whenever you are trying to learn something new you often go to an experienced person to get good advice. Right? On Mt. Shasta I found out that guides are like gold. Without my guide Genaro, I never would have made it to the peak. Without his advise and example I would have failed. Living life battling cancer I need mentors! I tracked down survivors, pastors, elders, wise friends to gather guidance.
Three - Step-by-Step: Climbing Mt Shasta I had to take a slow pace called “rest step” so I wouldn’t get worn out and give up. One, two, rest. One, two, rest. Without the step-by-step approach, I would have failed. With “terminal” cancer, I take it step-by-step also. If I look ahead, I lock in place and the future seems impossible. So I take it day-by-day, sometimes even minute-by-minute. And I take each step holding onto my Lord, Psalm 37:23-24, Proverbs 4:11-13.
Four - Overcome Anxiety: Going through cancer, we all know anxiety very well. Early in my climb up Mt. Shasta anxiety took over! Physical pain in my legs, fear I would fail. Soon enough nausea and diarrhea overcame me. I felt like stuff was going to come out both ends at the same time! Anxiety is UGLY. Being diagnosed with terminal cancer brings on anxiety, no doubt. Overwhelming. During the climb I realized that I brought the sickness on myself by getting caught up in the “what-ifs”. With cancer the “what-ifs” can lead to anxiety and depression! It gets deeper and deeper like falling into a black pit. While climbing Mt Shasta once I started living in the moment, not thinking about the “what-ifs” the sickness of anxiety went away. SO true for me battling cancer too! I love the verse Philippians 4:6-7
Five - Faith: The statistics show 70 % of the people attempting to climb Mount Shasta fail and never make it to the peak. Our guide felt it was not due to physical fitness of the people, but mental attitude. Faith. I was so determined to make it to the peak, I kept my faith and I succeeded. Same with cancer. I’m not saying I have been cured with faith. My goal with cancer is to live with peace, joy and a smile on my face while going through it! That’s my cancer peak. Faith gets me there. My faith is in Christ, he is my refuge - Psalm 62:8
Six – Teamwork: On Mt. Shasta during the dangerously steep part of the climb we all needed to be tied together with rope and harnesses. So if one person fell, the others would drop and slam their ice ax into the slope, holding on tight, keeping them from sliding down the mountain. Being part of the team had many benefits - safety, feeling of security, keeps you at a good pace. I don’t know if I would have made it to the peak with out the teamwork. It is the same way while I climb the mountain of brain cancer. I am blessed to have many teams helping me - my family, my church, my doctors, my caregivers, internet support groups. Taking the challenge with teamwork, makes me feel like it is more do-able. I love Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that tells us how two are better than one!
Seven – Working through Pain: You guys have heard of the saying “No pain, No gain.” I had to work through pain to make it to the peak of Mount Shasta. My thighs were on fire, they burned with each step. My boots cut into my shins. Our guide told us “You need to work through your pain”. If you stopped because of the pain, your muscles would tighten up and it would get worse. I needed to work through the pain. Same for me working through cancer, it can be painful for sure. Physical pain and emotional pain! I need to “keep on keeping on” as David Bailey said. I need to keep working through the pain or it will take me down. Pain can also bring benefits! Like giving birth brings us our child. James 1:2-4 tells us how suffering and pain builds strength and perseverance. And 1 Peter 5:10 tells us how God restores us after the pain.
Eight – Taking Breaks: During the climb, every hour or so, we took a break. We sat up strait, relaxed, took deep breaths, and checked our gear to make sure everything was in order. Living through brain cancer I need breaks too. I find a still quiet place and do nothing. It’s refreshing! Silence is beautiful! It’s like hitting the “reset” button on the computer. After my break, my brain works clearer. See Psalm 46:10
Nine – Energize: During our break climbing Mount Shasta we drank water and ate to keep up our energy. An amazing energy gel called GU, smooth creamy chocolate gel. Yum! Living through cancer treatments, we feel physically fatigued and worn down. Emotional stress also depletes our bodies from energy. It gets harder doing the daily stuff around the house. Just like on the mountain, I need to drink and eat well. Good healthy stuff to energize my immune system and give me the strength to keep up the fight. Other things like laughing, listening to great music, singing, dancing, moving - brings energy. Also just remembering a verse from God’s word during the day gives me strength to keep going! Like 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ten – Encouragement: Climbing Mount Shasta, almost at the peak, we got to what is called, Misery Hill. It has that name for a reason. I was ready to give up. Matt my husband and a guide saw the look on my face and started the encouragement. “Don’t stop!” “Move those feet!” They took a tag team approach, like big cheerleading men. Sometimes living with cancer I feel like there is no one there cheering me on. Sometimes I need encouragement every day, every hour. I learned I don’t need to wait to hear it from a “person”. I was amazed how many times the Bible talks about encouragement, too many to list here. But God’s word tells us how we can be encouraged by the scripture, the Holy Spirit, thinking of others that inspire us, doing good deeds for others, and even just cheering ourselves on! So I love my friends and family there to encourage me, but I’ve learned that it’s not limited to that. I love Nike’s commercial where it said “Athletes tell themselves they can do the impossible, even when they are not sure they can.” Talk about encouraging themselves!
Eleven – Notice the Miracles: When I finally made it to the peak of Mt Shasta I knew it was a miracle. Statistics said 70% would fail the climb. I was a cancer patient, not in the best shape, old worn out gear, was in pain. Anyone predicting would bet that I would fail. However I made it to the peak! To me a miracle! Growing up I never believed miracles still happened. I thought it was something you read about in the Bible in the old days. But I am seeing them now in my life! Too many to list. God still works miracles today. There have been too many amazing things happening in my life over the last 11 years to call it “by-luck” or “by-chance”. I’m not saying I’m cured, but I have seen mountains move! Matthew 21:21
Twelve – At the Peak: At the peak of Mt Shasta I was amazed. Seeing a view I never would see anywhere else in the world. However I surprised myself. I thought the BIG reward for successfully making it to the peak would be seeing the beautiful view. But that was not it. The reward I truly valued was living through, being molded by; the experience of the climb itself. For me it’s the same thing with cancer. It’s not the reward of surviving that I truly value. It’s the changes it’s made in my life through my experiences climbing my own “life’s mountains”. Here is the summary of the key new view of life I learned while climbing to the peaks of my own Life’s Mountains. Trials are a blessing molding me into a better person. Expect trials to keep coming in life like peaks in mountain ranges. I can feel peace and joy through the good and the bad times. I can smile each day regardless of my circumstances. I can smile.