Overcoming the odds
A cancer survivor decides to change her life and go for a once-in-a-lifetime trek in nepal.
IN 2007, sales and administration manager Krizian Lim received a piece of shocking news; she had cervical cancer.
In her 30s then, Lim was in the prime of her life and had just resigned from her job.
“I was very worried about not being able to find another job and not being able to take care of myself. My two children were young at the time, and our family had a lot of financial commitments. There were a lot of things to think about,” recalled Lim, now 47, who hails from Slim River, Perak.
“When the doctor told me I had cancer, I did not respond at first. I then shed a few tears, but after that, I did not cry. I knew I had to find a way to be strong and go forward. My children needed a mother,” she added.
After going for surgery and chemotherapy, Lim got better. She also decided to make major changes in her life. Once a person who hated exercise, she dedicated herself to fitness, picking up things like zumba, yoga and hiking.
To date, she has been declared cancer-free for 12 years and has kept to her new, healthy lifestyle.
Lim participated in the Spartan Race (one of the world’s most challenging obstacle courses) in 2017, 2018 and 2019, each time achieving the Trifecta, a recognition given to those who complete three different categories of the Spartan Race within the same calendar year. Earlier this year, she also climbed Mount Kinabalu in Sabah.
But all that was just preparation for her greatest challenge – trekking 120km through Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, to climb the Gokyo Ri mountain, which stands at 5,360m above sea level. It is an alternative to the popular Everest Base Camp trail, which is situated around the same location and has a similar altitude (5,364m above sea level).
“One of my hiker friends went there and told me it was very beautiful. I had read a lot about how beautiful Nepal is, but never had any specific plans to go there,” Lim said.
In September, Lim set off for Nepal, accompanied by her husband Yau Tuck Wai, mountain guide Shiva Sedai, and a porter, Ram Kaji. The trek took 10 days.
“The journey depended on the weather. If it was sunny, it was not that tough; you just needed to take your time. You also need proper acclimatisation. But during my trek, when going to the higher points, it was very cloudy, raining or snowing, as we were travelling during the end of the monsoon,” Lim recalled.
Making it more challenging was their accommodation for the night, which was very basic. Most of the houses in the village where her group stayed lacked proper insulation, making the nights very cold.
The most difficult part of her journey, however, was her trek from the village of Dole to Gokyo Lake. There, Lim had to hike through ice and snow on a journey so strenuous that she developed fatigue and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
“Giving up was never an option. I told myself I would get there, that it was just a matter of time. I knew there was no other choice,” she said.
With persistence and fortitude, Lim and her group kept going, eventually completing their journey. It was, she said, an absolutely rewarding experience, one that left her feeling fantastic.
Her favourite part of the journey? Gokyo Lake, a beautiful body of water that stands at 4,790m above sea level.
“It was so beautiful; so calm and turquoise in colour. It was like heaven on earth,” she said.
The thrill of the trek ended up whetting Lim’s appetite for adventure. She plans to continue looking for good hiking trails, although there are no definite plans to go anywhere yet.
However, the Tour du Mont Blanc in France is one inviting option, as is going back to Nepal, where Lim says there are still many trails worth exploring.
Looking back on her life so far, Lim said it may have been difficult at times, but it all added up to something good.
“They call us cancer survivors. But I think a lot of good things happen to cancer survivors, if you look at things from a positive point of view. We see things differently. We feel more grateful for the things we have,” she said.
“When I got cancer, I thought to myself, I have to live the rest of my life the best I can. If I had to go, then it was time to go, with no regrets. I might not wish to have this life-changing experience, but it’s possibly the best thing that has ever happened in my life. It has changed me.”
The Paper’s People is an occasional column about Malaysia-based everyday folk who do what they love. If you have someone to recommend, e-mail us at lifestyle@thestar.com.my.