Da Count-Ascent

Anyone who has read this blog in the last year knows Calypso struggled terribly with her health this past year. Around Easter she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease (oh, the irony) and began treatment. IT took quite a while before she really began to feel much better. The process was initially hindered by a truly crazy physician who I believe preys upon families who are desperate to do anything to make a loved one better when every other doctor has given up. It was a damn hard year, and that was only dealing with Calypso's medical situation and trying to help her graduate on time. Consistent readers may well remember how the universe just seemed to pile on crisis after crisis.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again today. I am profoundly grateful that Calypso is regaining her health and she is able to move forward in her life. Tomorrow (barring disaster related to Wicked Irene) we will be taking her a camp about three hours away where she will be involved in a nine month cross-cultural training, service-oriented program. Two days after we drop her off she heads out to Colorado to commence with the team-building exercise of backpacking in the Rockies for four days.

Three months ago, even though we had a diagnosis and what seemed like an effective treatment, I never would have dared to hope she'd be well enough to do this. I wasn't concerned about Calypso's sense of determination. She demonstrated this past year that she has what it takes to gut through tremendous adversity. I just didn't know if her body would be recovered sufficiently from a year of disease and atrophy to allow her to physically gut through.

This summer she was working to build up strength and stamina again. We are fortunate enough to live within decent distance to the Appalachian Trail and Mr. Lime is an experienced backpacker. Since he's been off school he has been able to take Calypso out on different sections of the trail for some training hikes. Let me tell you the AT in Pennsylvania is a challenging trek because of how rocky it is. There are a number of ascents but even the flat sections of trail are no picnic because of the proliferation of rocks.

Yesterday Mr. Lime took Calypso out for their final hike before she leaves. It was a demanding trail that ascends 1200 ft. in 2 miles. Some sections of it are more like vertical free climbing. When they made the top I received this picture.

 

A few minutes later I noticed on Facebook that Calypso had posted, "I climbed a mountain!" Yes, Calypso, you most certainly have.  I hope you are reveling in the view.