Christy Howard on Reaching New Heights
Two years ago, I got an idea – I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa and fourth tallest peak in the world. That’s a big adventure. The training, the logistics, the planning, the necessary equipment and gear, the expense.
And to top it all off, I have epilepsy. That adds a whole other layer of planning and strategy.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not for the weak, so why would I want to summit this peak? Because I want to, and because
I can. I accept and enjoy challenges and adventures. My husband, daughters, and I have traveled the world taking on adventures because we want to. It empowers us, it enriches our lives, and at times, it allows us to do mission work. Mount Kilimanjaro? Challenge accepted.
I’ve had epilepsy since I was 16. As a matter of fact, I was diagnosed right after I got my driver’s license and driving became elusive. I lived my high school and college life to its fullest, worked, married, and started a family.
As I got older, my seizures got worse. I had my first operation in 2013 to remove a mass in my brain. My medicines began to change my personality. My family noticed I was not as outgoing as I used to be. Sometimes I wonder who I’ve become since my diagnosis. I don’t want to lose my identity to epilepsy, and I fight daily to be the person I know I am, not who epilepsy tries to make me.
In 2019, I had a second surgery to place a NeuroPace implant in my brain. The NeuroPace is about the size of two flash drives and provides significant seizure reductions, but many still break through. The NeuroPace is a personalized treatment that responds to my irregular brain activity and provides EEG data to my medical team, allowing them to optimize my treatment plan. My seizures are grand mal focal seizures that affect one area of my brain, my four extremities, and face muscles and last about 40 seconds. Some weeks I have none, some weeks I have many. Mine mostly occur when I sleep, but not all of them – there is no predictability.
When I told my neurologist I was going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, he said, “Live your life!” Before he ever said that to me, that’s been my mantra. I refuse to let epilepsy control me. I resist the side effects of the 38,000mg of medicines, including four anti-seizure meds, that I take each week. One seizure can take away my energy for an entire day. My meds can make me tired, slow my thinking, and lower my motivation, but I have a life to live and a family to support, so I don’t give in.
Since I can’t drive, I rely on family and friends for rides. My father-in-law is my driving hero. I also receive rides from many others, which has opened up pathways to new friends. I’m incredibly grateful to my army for supporting me.
As my family and I began prepping for this trek, I realized I wanted this to be so much more than a personal accomplishment. One of my friends calls me a quiet and determined warrior – I don’t speak much about my epilepsy, but this trek is an opportunity to highlight epilepsy awareness. We decided to film our preparations, like gear gathering, local hikes, and conversations under the name Scraped Knees. We will also be filming our Mount Kilimanjaro trek, and we posted a trailer on YouTube called “Scraped Knees Trailer for Christy’s Climb.”
We want to also bring awareness to others who may be going through a battle or challenge. My husband, James, a hot air balloon pilot, and I created Battle in the Baskets where we take people on a tethered hot air balloon ride and ask the question, “What’s your battle?” We’ve interviewed and filmed people with cancer, great loss, divorce, and epilepsy.
So many people face heavy challenges every day. Sharing these stories reminds each of us to offer at least a smile, if not more, to everyone who crosses our path.
I’ve been to Africa several times. I love the continent, its people, and cultures. I learned there are high success rates on particular routes up Mount Kilimanjaro and I could climb without ropes and with experienced sherpas, making this dream more attainable. Will I have more seizures at higher altitudes? Yes. Will the different time zones and weather affect my medicine intake? Yes. Will I get scraped knees? Yes! Will I get altitude sickness? Possibly.
As we approach our July 2024 departure date, none of these things will stop me from this trek. My husband, our daughters, and our team of friends and guides are ready to take on this exciting endeavor with me. There is no failure in my attempt. I want to summit to prove epilepsy doesn’t have control of me. I want to be an example for others who are facing tough challenges to lean on each other. Don’t hide the bad things in your life or be ashamed. Face them and take your warriors with you!
Christy Howard, Chattanooga
