Personal Stoke

**UTpowder** · 04-05-2016, 03:24 PM

As far as stoke goes this isn't anything steep, deep, or from a far away place but it personally means quite a bit to me so I'm posting it anyway.
Six years ago Mrs Utpow was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (the blood vessels in her lungs were constricting and nobody knew why). It was progressing quite rapidly despite several very expensive medications and hospital stays. Her prognosis of survival was slim. One of the hardest things she had to do was give up her season ski pass. She never was a great skier but loved to get out and would go whenever she could especially with our at the time 12 year old daughter. Two years ago she became even worse and the Doc told us with out a lung transplant she would not last more then a month or two. We were able to get her listed for transplant and she had a double lung transplant at the University of Utah. It was a difficult 6 months as there were times she almost didn't make it.

This last weekend she asked if she could go skiing with my daughter and I. She did great. I immediately bought her new skis and a season pass. This pic is the first lift ride up all three of us have had together in 6 years. Here's to many more.

**::: :::** · 04-05-2016, 03:30 PM

that is kind of awesome!

**mall walker** · 04-05-2016, 03:30 PM

Awesome. Congrats, and best wishes going forward.

**Buster Highmen** · 04-05-2016, 03:32 PM

++!!

**spankthepow** · 04-05-2016, 03:36 PM

Woot woot!!

**TomCrac** · 04-05-2016, 03:43 PM

That's an amazing story! Here's to many more chairlift rides!

**Dhelihiker** · 04-05-2016, 03:53 PM

Thats heavy, Im glad your lady is better, that sounds rough

**adrenalated** · 04-05-2016, 04:01 PM

FKNA. Glad she's back.

**babybear** · 04-05-2016, 04:09 PM

wow that brought a tear to my eye thinking about the struggle you have gone through- double lung transplant?!
awesome stuff and hoping all keeps going well
not many things better than a good sunny ski day with your family

**detrusor** · 04-05-2016, 04:11 PM

Amazing. Live everyday!

**eskido** · 04-05-2016, 05:42 PM

Phenomenal!! Congrats, that is f n RAD!

**GPP33** · 04-05-2016, 05:44 PM

Glad to hear she's back on the snow and that your daughter still has her mommy in her life. Just grabbed my wife and 10 year old daughter and gave em a hug.

**bigdude2468** · 04-05-2016, 05:58 PM

That is just plain awesome��

**btmacken** · 04-05-2016, 06:10 PM

Yup good stoke right there!

**abraham** · 04-05-2016, 06:27 PM

Awesome! Glad you all could get out and ride the lifts together

**dschane** · 04-05-2016, 06:29 PM

Excellent post and pic!

**ThreeRidges** · 04-05-2016, 06:54 PM

Great day, more good vibes to you and yours.

**Skidog** · 04-05-2016, 07:07 PM

This is better than the steepest sickest line ever posted on this site.

Awesome news.

**hatchgreenchile** · 04-05-2016, 07:22 PM

That's some grade A, high quality stoke right there.
Glad things have turned around for you and your family.

**ole2planker** · 04-05-2016, 07:27 PM

Great post. Clearly, this is the trip report of the year.

**Sirshredalot** · 04-05-2016, 07:36 PM

I'm really happy for you and your family. I hope this is just one of many good ski days you have in the many upcoming years.

**Jax** · 04-05-2016, 08:15 PM

There is much to be said of the benefits of skiing, how therapeutic it is, on so many levels. But your pic says it all with no words. Congrats on many more ski days to come, and thanks for sharing!