Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa –July 18, 2011. Six people with MS and four with Parkinson’s reach Africa’s highest peak. The expedition is led by Lori Schneider, Mount Everest conqueror, herself suffering from multiple sclerosis …
“When I was diagnosed, I wanted to be as far away from my life as possible and from my disease,” says Lori Schneider. – For six months, I was not able to tell anyone, not even the closest ones, about the diagnosis. I ended a marriage that lasted 22 years. I quit my teaching career and worked at school for 20 years. I sold my house and abandoned everything just to escape the words multiple sclerosis. It only changed when I stood on the top of Mount Everest. I became the first person in the world with MS to reach this summit. The first to win the World Crown. It was unbelievable. I wanted others to feel the same as me at this very moment. They felt the diagnosis didn’t make them different. They can still make their dreams come true, they can stand on the tops of the mountains.
To this day, he remembers that moment in 2009. She cried with joy. First, from the very top, she called her father, Neal Schneider. She said, “Dad, I did it, I did it!” In response, she heard a calm voice: “Fine, now carefully go downstairs …”
Kilimanjaro, the mountain of magic
If it weren’t for him, not only would she not have tried to climb Mount Everest, she would not have been hiking at all. As a girl, she didn’t like sports, especially running. Traveling yes, getting to know other cultures and distant places was something fascinating. And the mountains? Nothing fancy, the mountains just are there and have always been around. After all, they lived in Colorado, a state where tourists go to admire the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains in the summer and use skis in the winter. One day, Neal confided to his daughter that he dreamed of conquering Kilimanjaro. She thought for a moment, Kilimanjaro sounded good. There was the exoticism of a long journey and the magic of a lonely snow-capped peak near the equator. Kilimanjaro is something she would also like to see.
They went together. Father and daughter. It was 1993 and the magic of Kilimanjaro had done its job. As Lori went down, she felt that she wanted to conquer the Crown of the Earth, all 7 highest peaks of individual continents: Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Elbrus, Denali / Mc Kinley, Mount Kosciuszko, Vinson Massif and Mount Everest. In 1999, when she was in the middle of preparing for the Aconcagua expedition, she felt her body refuse to obey. Half of her body felt a strange numbness, then there were problems with her eyesight. She had a CSF test done quickly, but the results were misread and MS was ruled out. Stroke, Lyme disease, lupus, brain tumor were suspected … Two months later the numbness spread to the whole body. Therefore, further studies were done, including a brain biopsy. It was only then that it was noticed that the results of the CSF studies had been misinterpreted. MRI confirmed the diagnosis: multiple sclerosis.
great Escape
Lori was then 43 years old. She felt her dreams slipping away, her life suddenly ending. She didn’t know much about MS. She imagined herself in a wheelchair, not only partially paralyzed, but waiting to die. Maybe that’s why, out of fear of the future and death, she wanted to escape the diagnosis as far as possible.
She, who disliked running so much, started running marathons. She covered the distance of 2002 miles or 2003 kilometers three times (2006, 26,2, 42). She took part in the Millennium Half Marathon organized in 2008 on the Great Wall in China. She climbed the Sydney Bay Bridge. She did not give up the Crown of the Earth. She walked up peak after peak as if she had never heard that she had multiple sclerosis. In 2000 she climbed Aconcagua in South America, in 2002 – Elbrus, 2006 – technically difficult Mc Kinley / Denali summit in Alaska, 2008 – Mount Kosciuszko in Australia and – the same year – Vinson Massif in Antarctica. Then it was time for the last pearl in the Crown – Mount Everest. The preparations themselves were exhausting. It was not only about the endurance of the body, but also about increasing the capacity of the lungs, which is not easy at such heights.
Inspiration for others
On Sunday, May 23, 2009, she raised a flag on Mount Everest. It was not the flag of the United States, but – World MS Day. Lori did not represent the USA, but all people suffering from multiple sclerosis, their relatives and friends. For she felt him overcoming not only her own fear, but also the fear of hundreds of thousands of other sick people. She also knew what she would do in the future. Today, the profession is not mentioned by “teacher” but “Inspirational Speaker”.
After returning, she founded the ETA foundation – Empowerment Through Adventure, which should be translated as strengthening or adding strength through adventure. She organized her first expedition to Kilimanjaro, a magical mountain that inspired change as well. Most of the participants already had some sports experience, they used to climb mountains. Therefore, the most important criterion was a positive attitude to life, regardless of what everyday life brings, as well as the ability to cooperate with the group, and the willingness to help other participants of the expedition. Together, they were supposed to show the world that people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as MS and Parkinson’s disease are people who are before diagnosis, they are able to pursue their dreams and passions.
It’s an honor
Eight people from MS went with her to Kilimanjaro: Kristy Banaszak (8, an insurer), Stefanie Ludlow (49, student), Ines Torredemer (29, psychologist), Sean Corcoran (24, materials science engineer), Susie Weber (46, graphic designer) , illustrator), Brandis Graves (46, physiotherapist), Gina Anderson (31, music teacher), April Winckler (42, babysitter). Each was accompanied by a second, healthy person acting as an assistant. The team also included medics, both rehabilitators, physiotherapists, and a medically prepared team of a company specializing in organizing alpine expeditions, Alpine Ascents International. Some participants did not reach the top due to altitude sickness or worsening symptoms of neurological disease. Three people with MS and five carers stayed downstairs. However, also those who did not make it to the top tried to help and support others. All of them had to overcome real limitations resulting from illness and disability as well as those that existed in their imaginations.
Lori’s partner on the way to Kilimanjaro was her father. This was his second trip to the magical mountain of Africa, much more difficult since Neal was 79 years old. 18 years have passed since their first climb together. Why did he do it? – Lori just asked me. And it was a great honor to be her partner, says Neal.
Text: Iza Czarnecka
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