Why I wanted to climb Snowden
The Birmingham Transplant Centre will be a national centre of excellence for organ transplantation, and will be funded in its entirety by UHB Charity. It will put patient care at the forefront of transplantation and will create a one stop shop for patients undergoing organ transplants. UHB Charity want to bring all of the specialist care available to the patient, taking away a huge amount of stress and therefore speeding up recovery time. The new centre will bring all the specialist care to patients, including pre-transplant consultations, additional fitness classes before surgery, patient support groups, and rehabilitation classes after surgery.
This is close to my heart (no pun) after I got my new heart back in October 2019 aged 34. I was rushed into the QE in Birmingham in a critical condition with heart failure. My family were told to prepare themselves for the worst, as a family we were broken. I was too young with a fiancé and two kids and my whole life ahead of me. Then something very special happened after months of being on a life support a heart became available. I was given the most amazing gift and a new chance at life thanks to his Donor, his Donors Family and the QE Hospital. They saved my life and my family and I will be forever grateful.
We planned to climb Mount Snowden in June in order to raise awareness and raise some money for the New Transplant Centre, any donations would be much appreciated and will go a long way.
Thank you all for your support and any donations to Kirsty Ross is fundraising for University Hospitals Birmingham Charity (justgiving.com) would be amazing.
Getting ready.
For months I had been trying to prepare as I had no idea if my heart and body would cope.
I started with my walking club doing 3-5km as often as I could. they have been an integral part of the end point, supporting and encouraging me constantly and I have made some great friends along the way.
To up my game I started to take trips to Dovedale and walking the various hills I could find as often as I could, dragging my ever supportive family with me.
When I couldn't get out in the fresh air, the stairs would suffice 100+ up and down at a time
The Climb
Awoke 4.30am a little excited in trepidation. Breakfast first and wait for the rest of the team to assemble.
We took the Miners track as it has a fairly easy start, before the scramble starts.
The gods were smiling on me again as not a drop of rain fell - I gather the rest of the country was not so fortunate.
As we walked through the lakes a couple of mad fools were taking a dip. We decided not to join them.
Up the start of the incline and we all felt fine until we started to scramble. A few more pit stops required to catch our breath and gaze back at the glorious scenery.
I had a slight wobble after the scramble where I thought my body was not going to allow me to make it, but after a few extra rests and short walks I recovered.
Made it to the peak (pre-summit) where the cold and wind whipped up off the sea, what a climate change two strides can make.
Summit
Only the 3rd person to have reached the Snowden summit following a heart transplant. I am absolutely buzzing.
Huge thanks to all who supported us along the way and for helping to smash my target
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kirstycarl-ross18
Carl
