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tad
Social climber
puerto natales chile
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Jul 23, 2008 - 11:00am PT
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hello i hope micah is ok and he is better now .iam from patagonia .i meet micah in peru we been climbing in huaraz ,, i took lots of photos doing slackline and.bouldering.. that one you stamp in the tshirt too ,is great job you doing guys realy good news .my name is tadeo .please say hello and a big hug to micah .and good luck with the next event sound great event .ok .thanks bye ....
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 24, 2008 - 12:49am PT
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hey there rhyang... say, thanks for the share...
i have been so happy to hear your success story... a friend of mine from san jose (who oddly lived in michigan before i did).... well, he never got well from his broken neck and is a quad in a chair.... but he drove from mich, to san jose to live....
really neat guy, yet, from what i have recently learned, he is going down hill---he broke his neck when he was 17....
i keep rooting any and all guys that have accident, because the good lord has been so good to those we know and love through their adventures, and they have had some "awesome" saves..... THUS is only RIGHT to pass this hope, love and encouragement for successs to those that have been hurt, and face hard things SO THAT THEY will in turn get some kind of A RICH SAVE in the hard areas that they face....
everyone needs folks in there corner.... a good team can reach the finish line, no matter how long it takes...
thaks rhyang...
say at MICAH AND SIS AND FAMILY:
congrats for the great raffle funds.... wow, this is wonderful news... hope the next one will be wonderful, too...
say----bump for micah and his family!!!!!!!!!!!!
keep to trail, micah... you may not see it all now, but there are spectacular views on some of the high points along hard trails--- views that others will never see or appreaciate... god bless to you!
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Jul 24, 2008 - 11:50am PT
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neebee - thanks for the email. I haven't gotten a chance to reply as yet, but I wanted to mention a few things here.
Spinal cord injury is irreparable damage to the central nervous system. Once CNS tissue dies, it cannot be repaired or healed. Experiments in rats don't translate to the human body as yet. Maybe someday .. but for now SCI means permanent disability.
I've got a list of things about my body that I wish worked properly after my accident, but it's not really important to mention them all here. Suffice it to say I'm getting on with my life despite them.
The rehab program I went to had a good peer support program. Every week paras and quads from the community came and visited with new patients. These are people who have been living with SCI for many years. It was led by a guy in a powerchair who had broken his neck nearly 20 years ago. They had a lot of advice and support for us.
I remember one guy who had broken his neck in a diving accident and was a quad as a result. I was in rehab in September, and he had just been to Burning Man -- he'd ridden his powerchair around the playa. Seemed like he'd had a good time.
There was another guy who came to visit me who had become a para in his teens due to a tumor in his spine. He'd gone on to get an engineering degree, worked for a defense contractor and owned his own home. He had a lot of advice for me about life in a wheelchair. He brought me news clippings about Mark Wellman's ascent of Half Dome and had himself done quite a few trails in his chair.
I'm only 11 months into recovery, but I know it is going to take years and there is still a lot of hard work ahead. Life will never be the same as before. I am told that the process of "rewiring" in the CNS takes years, and a lot of hard physical work to retrain. Recovery from SCI is rarely ever complete - people almost never get everything back they had before. There are no guarantees, except that if you don't try you don't succeed.
Just a couple of weeks after the accident I could not feed myself, dress myself, or use a bedpan on my own. I could not even sit up in bed without help. What would have happened to me if I had been parked in a nursing home ?
On a related note, here's a news article from earlier this year :
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/INMSV3G2E.DTL
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Meggin (sister)
climber
san diego, ca
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Dream Catcher Lounge
Viejas Casino
Alpine, Ca
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
6-10 pm
21 and Up
$20 ticket
Entry Price Includes: unlimited non-alcoholic drinks,
Entry to poker tournament and bingo with prizes for winners, DJ JustOne, and Magic Show
Raffle & Silent Auction
All proceeds help support Micah and his children
On June 1st, 2008, Micah, an Alpine local, avid rock climber, and single father to three, injured himself while diving at Cedar Creek Falls, in Ramona, Ca. He was flown to Palomar Medical Center and was declared a quadriplegic upon admission. He broke his neck and is currently undergoing extensive medical treatment. Due to his physical, mental, and spiritual strength, he has already shown movement in the arms and has sensation in his legs. If anyone can walk away from this, it will be Micah. We are trying to raise enough money to cover medical expenses, take care of his children, and send him to a promising rehabilitation center. We, his family and friends, have no doubt that if there is a way, he will find it!
Donations Accepted at any Washington Mutual, Benevolent Account under Micah Retz
http://www.Micah-Retz.com
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there meggin... say, i was wondering how micah was doing.. had not seen any updates at the website...
bump for the aug benefit...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 16, 2008 - 10:47pm PT
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hey there... bump for micah:
Dream Catcher Lounge
Viejas Casino
Alpine, Ca
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
6-10 pm
21 and Up
$20 ticket
Entry Price Includes: unlimited non-alcoholic drinks,
Entry to poker tournament and bingo with prizes for winners, DJ JustOne, and Magic Show
Raffle & Silent Auction
say, there, meggin... had not seen any updates... on micah's site... sure hope is doing well... and sure hope the kids and family are too.... there is always a spot along these hard trails where depression or simply just weariness can set in, as to the on-going continual hard work at mastering such trails....
sure do hope all is well... i am sending you good cheer there, meggin... give your brother a good boost, too... god bless and many prayers....
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poop_tube
Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 19, 2008 - 03:33pm PT
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Hey All! Benefit tomorrow night!
I went to visit him on Sunday. He is doing much better. Bicep and tricep movement. He is mobile on his wheelchair.
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Aug 19, 2008 - 03:37pm PT
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WOO-HOO !! Great news !
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 19, 2008 - 06:37pm PT
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hey there... say, ....bump..... and i will cheer right along with rhyang.... great news... :)
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Aug 20, 2008 - 11:02am PT
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btw I take it he is now in an SCI rehab program ?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 21, 2008 - 12:06am PT
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hey there all... say, if you have NOT yet seen the updates at micah's website... head on over there...
it is GREAT news... !!! ...
also, a bump for the benefit, soon to come....
say, rhyang, this website will answer your questions, too, i think:
http://www.micah-retz.com
*hit the CURRENT STATUS on the left side (yellow print)
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addiroid
Big Wall climber
Long Beach, CA
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Aug 21, 2008 - 02:28am PT
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I know I have met the guy, but don't know him. Did you show up one night late like 1am to the start of the Prow/SouthFace/SkullQueen jamming some Zepplin and drinking some brews??
Anyways, from a Physical Therapist who isn't climbing sh#t anymore because he is working too much, here's $50 bucks to your paypal acct. Best of luck in your recovery!!!!
Sorry to hear this happened to such a rad dude!!!
Paul Addison, MPT, CSCS
http://www.mvpsc.com
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rhyang
Ice climber
SJC
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Aug 22, 2008 - 01:12am PT
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Me too (clicked paypal button). Never met Micah, but I have come to realize how few degrees of separation between climbers there really are.
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Gene Pool
Trad climber
A trailer park in Santa Cruz
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Aug 22, 2008 - 03:49pm PT
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I met Micah two Winters ago on dinner ledge on the Column. It was the coldest day of the year when all the citrus froze and he was doing Southern Man I think. We listened to music and enjoyed the great winter views of Half Dome. I was really sad to hear that he got injured. I am however really glad he didn't knock any rocks off from the final couple pitches, otherwise I might be taking donations! There was sand and pebbles raining down all night and we slept in our helmets. He must be a graceful climber.
I enjoyed meeting him and wish him the best recovery. I encourage any others to donate a bit to his fund. Every little bit helps. Many of us (even with insurance) aren't far from being in need of help due to sickness or long-term injury and it is a blessing to be in the position of helper!!!!! Good luck dude!
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poop_tube
Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2008 - 06:24pm PT
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thanks everyone for your help! Ya, that was me with him on Washington Column. I still have pictures of your brother. I'll send them to you when I get the chance. That was friggin cold up there!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Oct 16, 2008 - 09:36pm PT
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hey there all... say, seems there had not been an update for awhile for micah, and then, when it came, i missed it...
say, here is link for the latest update for those that know micah...
sounds like more good news... still hard work, of course... but the update says his kids are giving him some new joy, too...
and much money is going into needs for at home, etc...
http://www.micah-retz.com/index.php?page=status
say, here's a bump for micah's friends...
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poop_tube
Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 17, 2008 - 10:54pm PT
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I went to visit him last Sunday and he is doing very well. He is able to brush his teeth! As a matter of fact i had lunch with him and he fed himself. Then we watched a movie in the theater. He's on his way to recovery but still a long ways, slowly, like a tenuous aid climb. He is inching his way. No mixed climbing for him this season. Maybe next season :-)
He still needs help raising funds. ANYTHING would be appreciated!
Much love,
Kia
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rhyang
climber
SJC
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Nov 17, 2008 - 12:49pm PT
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How quickly time flies, I missed this earlier .. anyway, it's really good news.
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