The year we first connected, on what would have been Kari’s 19th birthday, I received a “Happy Birthday to your Lungs!” card from Kari’s mom, Lisa, that included the above picture. Lisa said that it is one of her favorite pictures of Kari. It’s now one of mine too. She also said that tie-dye was one of Kari’s favorite patterns. Several of Kari’s friends have echoed that to me – nudging me to do tie-dye shirts. But, the print on tie-dye shirts just never looked that great – and then there’s the cost! Well, we went there this year!!! And another reason is that these two, awesome, precious goofs are coming out to climb with me too!!! Kari’s niece and namesake, Eva Kari, and her nephew Garrett will be in the stairwells with me, along with their mom and dad – and Lisa will be at the top. Eva and Garrett were born long after I received Kari’s lungs. I’ve never met them, but I’ve watched them grow up (and pose with our team shirts) – and I’m very excited to meet them this coming weekend!!! I know that Kari would have absolutely ADORED Eva & Garrett!!!
There are a 2 small flights of stairs leading up to the courtyard of our building. I remember the few years I waited - before receiving Kari’s beautiful gift - on the infrequent occasions where we would walk over to Blackie’s for breakfast, walking back, toting my oxygen, coming up to those stairs - it sometimes felt like I was coming up to Mount Everest. I would take 2-3 steps, then rest a few or several minutes, then take 2-3 more - slowly - until we got to the top. Sometimes we would dodge them, going into the garage to take the elevator one floor to the courtyard level. To dodge 2 small flights of stairs.
Now I climb 94 floors to the top of the “Hancock”. I’m not going to say it’s easy - but ya know what??? - I don’t struggle as much climbing 94 floors as I did when I climbed those 2 flights 19 years ago. Because of a beautiful girl from Iowa named Kari. And because of so many people like you – supporting me, and organizations like the Respiratory Health Association. I always see this as an opportunity to pay back some of what’s been given to me – or pay that forward, and help others struggling like I did…
This climb really means an awful lot to me and I wouldn't miss it for the world. This will be the 17th time I strut my fanny up the steps at the Hancock and this is my team's 16th climb. Kari was #13 on her high school volleyball team – And as they have for about 14 years now – her crazy, lovable teammates, #15, #12, #8, #7, #4 & #2 will be in the stairwells with me – along with several other people Kari grew up with – and 95 people on my team. And, the kidney #7 gave me is working as awesomely as the lungs #13 gave me. I’m doubly excited this year because Kari’s beautiful niece & nephew are registered to climb. I’ve yet to meet them, and I know Kari would have adored them…
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 be connected 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 of these crazy people who climb with me, and you, help people breathe. We have a very special mission.
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 be connected 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 of 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 3 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 sometimes takes 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.
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: Click Here…
Being surrounded by people who knew and loved Kari, and by people who know and love me, is something that defies description… And the support I've received from people like you has allowed me to tell so many people about Kari… In the past 17 years, our team has raised well over $350,000.00 - 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 almost 19 years when I climb - and her friend's beautiful kidney for 7 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
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: Click Here…
Being surrounded by people who knew and loved Kari, and by people who know and love me, is something that defies description… And the support I've received from people like you has allowed me to tell so many people about Kari… In the past 17 years, our team has raised well over $350,000.00 - 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 almost 19 years when I climb - and her friend's beautiful kidney for 7 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
