Welcome to Nepal

Welcome to Nepal

Monday 28 August 2006

Preparation

New kit

I have purchased an excellent guidebook on 'Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya' by Lonely Planet. This has answered most of my searching questions about what I have set out to complete next year. A few things have reared their head though. I need to purchase some extra equipment to make my trek comfortable. Years ago, when I served in the Territorial Army, one of the instructor's favourite sayings was: 'Any fool can be uncomfortable'. The key of course is to have good gear.

I will need to source a new four-season sleeping bag, some thermal underwear and a few extra pairs of walking socks. I might also consider buying a multi-function watch that measures temperature, altitude etc and possibly a mini solar panel for charging up batteries for a headtorch and digital camera. For the clothing and bag, I will probably stick with the supplier I know best and have relied on for years of walking - Mountain Equipment. The items will be purchased nearer the time, if/when I pass the medical checks that will allow me on the expedition.

The lady I spoke to for my initial booking is going with the rest of the team to Cho Oyu this week as part of her preparations for next year. See weblink: www.xtreme-everest.co.uk/. I have noted the blog 'Feed' and will keep up to date with her progress.

Thursday 17 August 2006

Why did I get involved

New baby

It all started with a rather frantic telephone call from my son on 28th April 2006, to tell me he was rushing his wife to hospital. The baby was on his way... eight weeks early! There were potential complications however, with the local hospital deciding the birth had to be handled by a specialist baby unit. Therefore, my daughter-in-law was transferred by ambulance to Nottingham, where baby Samuel was delivered by caesarean section and placed in intensive care.

It was decided the following day (29th April) that Samuel was to be transferred to another hospital in Leeds. A large growth on his liver required specialist neo-natal care. Arriving at the unit, Samuel was hooked up to all manner of machines. He was administered dextrose, an infusion of blood to help with clotting and morphine to keep him calm. A fibrillation pad was aiding his lungs, and oxygen was being given to help him breathe too. Most importantly though he was stable.

Early news seemed promising. On the 30th April, his oxygen assistance was turned down by 20% and he had a further blood infusion to help the blood clot more readily - a necessity before any operation on the liver. This optimism wasn't to last though, as Samuel took a turn for the worse in the night. After promising signs the day before, there was still a problem with his blood.

Early on the 1st May, the medical team finally advised that nothing more could be done for Samuel. His blood was still not clotting and despite another infusion, he was haemorrhaging internally. The artificial feeding and breathing aids were turned off one by one and the monitoring equipment was removed. Samuel finally died at 11.40am, being held by his mother and father.

The care he received was second to none from start to end. The staff in this particular Neo Natal Unit were superb. This tragic loss to the family was the catalyst for me wanting somehow to put something back into the NHS intensive care system. I could think of nothing better than coupling my love of mountains and walking, with volunteering myself to worthwhile research.

Footnote
The post mortem results showed a birthmark having grown on the liver. This was full of blood cells drawing blood from the normal circulation system. As a result the growth increased with each day putting more and more strain on Samuel's heart. In the end it could not cope with the extra demand. Furthermore, any operation to cut the growth away would have failed as it would have caused a massive haemorrhage. This is what forced the medical team to turn off the life support systems. A sad end to what should have been such a happy time for the family.

Wednesday 16 August 2006

Xtreme Everest Trek - 2007

Adventure beckons

After much deliberation I have decided to try and get on a trek to Everest Base Camp. I am applying for the Xtreme Everest Trek, due to depart early 2007. I have telephoned the office to obtain a Booking Code, but have not had a reply as yet. I have always hankered after a true adventure, but have never had the confidence or wherewithal to attempt it until now. I have reached a point in my life where I don't intend to look back and say: 'I wish I'd done that'.

It is expensive though - some £2,395. Having said that it is for 23 days trekking. An interesting angle to this particular trek, is that it is being used to further medical research. Whilst acclimatising up to Base Camp, various tests will be made on the volunteers to measure the effect of altitude on the human body. I have always wanted my fitness to be tested in a challenging environment and this is one way for that to happen.

So will it all be worthwhile? I hope so... to be involved in this research will fulfil my 'putting something back into society' need, whilst the trek itself should satisfy my adventure 'craving' and my love of being in the mountains. All this would not be possible though without the love and understanding of my wonderful wife who has been dragged unwillingly over some inhospitable terrain in her time with me. I don't know what my kids will say, but at least my wife can breathe a sigh of relief that I will not be dragging her up the Himalayas!

Footnote
Caudwell Xtreme Everest was a research project coordinated by the UCL Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme environment medicine (CASE) - doctors and scientists studying human systems were stretched to breaking point in extreme environments to increase the understanding of critically ill patients. The goal was to place a research team on the summit of Mount Everest in 2007 and make the first ever measurement of the level of oxygen in human blood at this altitude. This was the centrepiece of an extensive programme of research into hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and human performance at extreme altitude aimed at improving the care of the critically ill and other patients where hypoxia is a fundamental problem.