Survivor Summit: My Journey to the Roof of Africa
The year was 1995. I was ten years old and had been in the hospital for three days before Dr. Jim Sharp, a pediatric oncologist at Brackenridge Children’s, gave us the news: “Mrs. Thompson, Michael has Acute Myeloid Leukemia and we need to start chemotherapy treatments as soon as possible.”
You cannot prepare for those words “you have cancer.” You just accept it and make one of two choices — either give up or fight like hell. I chose the latter.
The years that followed that fateful day in mid-October were filled with the worst pain imaginable. After 75 operations, 2 bone marrow transplants from an unrelated donor and a 12.5-hour facial reconstruction all in five years, I emerged on the other side of the disease broken and afraid. I was no longer the young, fit athlete who spent his days on the ball field or bike. I had no drive. I had no passion for life. I wondered why I was still alive.
It wasn’t until 2008 that I rediscovered my spark for being alive. I participated in a charity bike ride called LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin in Dripping Springs, Texas, a short drive from my hometown in Austin. When it came time to finish the 65-mile route, I came to a split in the chute. An arrow pointed to the right with the word “Survivors” printed on it. I knew which side I was taking — I am a survivor.
The next few years that spark grew into a roaring flame. I knocked down marathons, century bike rides, and Ironman triathlons, including the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I worked to spread hope to survivors and cancer patients and raise money to help them in their fight. Nothing could stand in my path. I decided from that point on to LIVESTRONG.
When my friend, and former LIVESTRONG CEO, Doug Ulman returned from Africa after his successful climb up Mount Kilimanjaro with Survivor Summit, he said to me, “You’ve done some great things, but THIS will change your life.” I’ll never forget those words.
I applied, was accepted and signed up to pursue my own journey to Tanzania to climb the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. After months of training and fundraising, our 15 inspired cancer fighters joined Earth Treks guides Chris Warner and Nelson Laur and a contingent of local Tanzanian guides and porters for the trek to the “Roof of Africa.” A combination of strength and hope propelled our team upwards for five days, and reaching the summit with 16 new best friends is now considered the highlight of my life. Viewing the world from 19,341 feet up is a spectacle you must see for yourself.
After tears of joy flowed onto the magical grounds of Uhuru Peak, we descended down into a new world full of life and light and the belief that anything is possible. Armed with a newfound perspective of being and a high that still has yet to fade, our “Kili” family spent two days in the African oasis of the Ngorongoro Crater where lions, wildebeests, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, cape buffalo, baboons and more roamed free. I still struggle to find words to convey the majesty of this place.
My wish for you is that you explore your own boundaries. My wish for you is to decide what makes you LIVESTRONG and who inspires you to LIVESTRONG. My wish for you is to follow in my footsteps to define your own mountains to climb. My wish for you is to make the trip to Africa and witness firsthand the beauty of the land, the inspired support of your teammates and guides, the humble spirit of the local porters and the view from 19,341 feet. Come climb with us.
LIVESTRONG always,
