Steve’s Hustle Link: ClickHere
22 years ago I was dying.
And then I wasn’t.
My lungs were
failing after 39 years struggling with cystic fibrosis.
And then they weren’t.
22 years ago, a beautiful 17-year-old girl
from Iowa passed away.
Her name was
Kari.
Kari had told her family how
strongly she felt about organ donation – she and her family saved my life.
I now breathe with Kari’s lungs.
Before Kari, I never understood what
breathing well felt like – I never had a frame of reference for how I live now.
This is something I do to keep her memory
alive.
In a little over a week, on Sunday, May 15, for the 20th
time, I’ll be taking Kari’s beautiful lungs up a bunch of stairs. Because of this crazy Covid-19 thing is still
hanging on, I’ll be taking them up the stairs outdoors at Soldier Field instead
of the 94 floors of the “Hancock” Building.
This will be the 20th time I’ve participated in the Hustle event for
Respiratory Health Association of Metro Chicago. My team this year will be quite limited, but
still mighty.
For the past 17 years I’ve had Kari’s crazy, lovable
teammates, #15, #12, #8, #7, #4 & #2 in the stairwells with me – along with
her family and several other people Kari grew up with… The past few years, I’ve kinda asked them to
hold off again – Chicago isn’t quite as lively has it has been in past years,
and the traveling would involve more risk than I’d care to see.
2022 will be my 20th climb – And it will be the 19th
time our Kari’s Klimbers have taken the stairs for Hustle Chicago. This climb really means an awful lot to me
and I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Can you imagine what it feels like to live with crappy lungs for 39
years – then receive a gift of new lungs from a beautiful Iowa girl and her
family. And then to meet that family,
and connect with friends and teammates who loved Kari… And have them come out year after year to
celebrate Kari with you. And then, when
you find yourself in trouble again, Kari’s friend Alex throws you a rope –
gives you a kidney – and allows you to climb for many more years! They’re good people, and they help me
understand who Kari would have become.
And, I get to tell people that I’m slowly being rebuilt into a girl from
Iowa…
I do this climb to tell people about Kari – and tell people
about her goodness and the goodness of her family and friends – and I tell
people about Alex and the importance of organ donation. And we also do this for people with crappy
lungs, like I had.
RHAMC helps people breathe easier – they
fund research in lung disease – they help people stop smoking – they help
people with lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma and
other respiratory diseases live longer, easier lives. One of RHAMC’s mottos has been, “If you can’t
breathe, nothing else matters…” I lived
through that motto, and I know too many people living it now. The RHAMC and all these crazy people who
climb with me, and you, help people breathe.
We have a very special mission.
Our cause touched Laura and me another way 6 ½ years
ago...
My beautiful mom-in-law was
diagnosed with lung cancer in fall of 2015.
Much to my Laura's dismay, moms and I were partners in mischief and
finding the wrong foods to eat, particularly doughnuts.
When she was diagnosed with lung cancer, mom
and I had some long chats about options, and the strength it takes to fight,
and sometimes not to fight.
She chose to
fight.
Ironically - the chemo had
dramatically shrunk her tumors - it worked.
But it was too toxic for the rest of mom and she didn't survive.
We do this to fund research so maybe next
time - someone else's mom-in-law has a better chance of hanging around and
sneaking doughnuts with them.
Like so many important causes – Respiratory Health
Association needs funding to help others.
If you have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket, I or anyone on my
team would be honored to receive a pledge...
But more than anything, I'd love it if you would check out my little
website and read about the beautiful girl whose lungs I breathe with, as well
as the beautiful girl who gave me her kidney - and the people who surrounded
them, and surround me now – people who have allowed me to leap tall
buildings...
To see my Hustle page or pledge me: Click
Here
To see my website about Kari, go to www.ClimbingForKari.org
To find someone on my full Kari’s Klimbers team #1: Click
Here
Team #2: Click
Here Team #3:
Click
Here
Being surrounded by people who knew and loved Kari, and by
people who know and love me, is something that defies description… While this year will be a little different, I
know they will still surround my heart.
The support I've received from people like you has allowed me to tell so
many people about Kari… In the past 20
years, our team has raised nearly a half million dollars - because of people
like you… Thank you. I get to do a fair amount of public speaking
and, often enough, when I walk into a room, more than one person pulls me aside
and says, "You're the one who climbs a hundred stories with your new
lungs, and with your donor's friends!!!"
And, often enough, they already know Kari's beautiful smile… I am that guy, and I'm proud of that - and
more than anything, I want them to know her smile. I will have had her beautiful lungs for over
21 years when I climb - and her friend's beautiful kidney for 9 years in May -
and they have and will allow me to do more than I'd ever dreamed possible…
And finally, and very important to me - please consider
organ & tissue donation, register to be a donor on your state' donor
registry, and tell your family how you feel.
I know a beautiful girl from Iowa who knew how she felt, and she told
her family - I think about her every single day.
Love, Steve
Steve Ferkau
Chicago, IL
Kari's Klimbers
BreathinSteven@gmail.com
www.ClimbingForKari.org
