Organized by Seoul National University Hospital, the expedition became the first such group in the world to conquer a Himalayan peak. Of 10 organ receivers and donors in the team, three reached the top - Yang Ji-mo (54, liver receiver), Min Kyung-bae (50, liver receiver), and Kim Gwang-sig (39, liver donor).
The group held a disbanding ceremony to commemorate their success. “When I reached the top of the snow-covered mountain, I sat down for a while, speechless. I tried hard to fight back tears, but they rushed to my eyes,” said Yang, the oldest expedition member.
Yang first thought about his wife and kids, who had been in Seoul praying for his safe return. But he was most overwhelmed by the fact that he could now deliver the message to the public that organ recipients can lead healthy, active lives after a transplant.
“We all are hoping that our success will be a watershed opportunity in enhancing public awareness of organ donation and organ transplantation, giving a boost to organ donation,” said Yang. He added that there are still many people lying in hospital beds desperately waiting for a transplant. Many treatable patients die every year because they cannot find a suitable donor in time.
In preparation for the climb, the members underwent a rigorous 12-week training session. They practiced rock-climbing and hiking on Bukhan, Dobong and Seorak mountains in Korea until leaving for Kathmandu, Nepal on Dec. 11, 2008.
At first, Yang’s journey was not easy. He suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea for two days upon arriving in Nepal. With the temperature dropping below minus 25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit) and strong winds hindering his push for the peak, he said he was about to give up when he was only 400 meters away from the summit.
“If I had given up, I would have regretted it my whole life,” Yang laughed.
Expedition leader Park Young-seok, a veteran who has climbed the so-called seven summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents) and the three poles (the North and South poles and Mount Everest), praised the group’s drive.
“Some members suffered from altitude sickness from being 3,500 meters above sea level, but their strong desire to stand on the summit carried them through,” Park said.
Professor Seo Kyung-seok, expedition director and a veteran liver transplant surgeon at SNUH, said although only three out of 10 members succeeded in reaching the summit, he was amazed that all of them made it to the base camp, at 5,150 meters above sea level.
“Even most normal people suffer from altitude sickness when they climb high mountains, as their blood vessels shrink. The organ donors and recipients also suffered from altitude sickness, but their level of suffering was not that different from other people. They really did a good job,” Seo said.
January 14, 2009
SNU PR Office