Backpacking Believers: September 2014

Greetings to everyone. In our last post we wrote how we were going to Denver to try and cross the Rockies before severe weather set in. Well we went to Denver and we decided to camp a few days at about 7700 feet elevation for a few days to try and get acclimated. Some of our family dropped us off at a campground just west of Denver. The next morning we noticed we were all a little short of breath but this was to be expected because of the drastic altitude change so we were not worried. We walked about 5.5 miles on the first day and then rested the remainder of it. We were able to see some buffalo, mule deer, different kinds of squirrels and chipmunks we have never seen and many different types of birds we have never seen. On the second night Jennifer said she had noticed some swelling in her body and we thought it must be due to the altitude. We had been reading on AMS (acute mountain sickness) and we decided to keep a close eye on each other for the signs of AMS. The next morning we could hear the sounds of elk in the distance and the squirrels running around our tent. Jennifer sat up and said she did not sleep all night and that she was very swollen now with a severe headache. After discussing all of her symptoms we decided she was suffering from AMS and we needed to descend immediately. The problem now was she could not walk due to the severity of the AMS so we needed a ride down the mountain. She was also showing signs of HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edemia) so the situation was escalating. We checked all of our options to get off the mountain and due to finances we needed someones help. We asked a few people in the campground but then one of them complained and the camp host told us we would be kicked out if we asked anyone else. Then one of the men in the campground came and told us he would give us a ride to about 5700 ft elevation. We started looking for a place to stay near a hospital that we could afford and this was very difficult and then we found one. There were people we met along our way calling people they knew in the Denver area trying to help in any way possible but to no avail. We made it to the motel and I went in to get the room but they said they just booked their last one. There was a hotel next door that was too expensive but we prayed for help so we decided to try anyway. I walked in and explained our situation and they gave us a room for what we had on our card. We checked in called a cab and went to the emergency room. The staff was very experienced with AMS and HAPE so they started tests immediately. They did X-ray, CT Scan, blood work and EKG. They confirmed what we thought and Jennifer had AMS which brought on HAPE. She was treated and released and the doctor said if we continued at this time it would definitely be life threatening for Jennifer and we needed to continue to descend in elevation if possible. So we called family and friends to let them know our situation and that we needed to get back to Omaha where we had left off on the trail. Finally after two bus rides, two train rides and a long car ride we made it back to Nebraska where we had left off. We want to say thank you to all of those who pitched in to get us back. We had help from Belize, Alabama, Ohio, Nebraska and Iowa, Thank you again. We are now walking again but much slower. Jennifer is still not 100% but is improving daily from the altitude sickness. We will now walk to Denver and then figure out what to do after we get there but we will slowly be rising in elevation instead of driving there. Please continue to support us through your prayers and contributions and we will continue to seek the will of God in our lives and try to make an impact and multiply His kingdom. Lord Bless

Backpacking Believers

Chris, Jennifer and Katlyn