wazzu, Glad you can come to my speaking event. I have some great photos that add a lot of perspective to climbing Everest.
Rob, You must have significant medical experience to even ask such questions - I wish you could come to the REI presentation. I have some cool medical photos I've included to help people understand the serious nature of my disease.
Diving or climbing related cause: They have not been able to relate it to anything. I have been diving for almost 20 years and with the exception of Kilimanjaro, I did not take up climbing until after I was diagnosed.
Making the decision to continue my training for Everest was difficult. No doctor had ever dealt with my situation. I was working with Dr. Peter Hackett of the Intitute for Altitude Medicine for about a year before I went. He was at the Everest ER when I was there. It was comforting to know he was only a radio call away while I was up on the mountain. Not that anything can be done once you get that high but I still found comfort knowing I could talk to him if something happened.
Anyone who steps onto that mountain understands that any rescue or help is . . . well. . .
This is such a complex story. That is why I am writing the book. I am no writer and never had any plans to do this - but I think it is a story people will read.
Frankly, I still find it hard to believe I climbed that mountain! But I am so glad I did
