HOW IT ALL STARTED

In May 2023, I successfully completed my Everest Base Camp trek. The Everest summit initially seemed like an unattainable fantasy. However, encounters with fellow trekkers on their way to the summit led me to whisper, "What if?". If I ever get the chance, I would want to go while I still have my useful sight, to see the world from the top of Everest with my very own eyes. With my deteriorating sight and hearing, I realised that I would have to take action now, or it's never.

A photo of Caroline standing in front of a rock painted with the words 'Everest Base Camp'. She is smiling, with her arms outstretched.
Two people sitting side by side facing away from the camera, looking out at a mountain range.

So, I have been reaching out to different organisations, and have been overwhelmed by the support I am receiving! I plan to use this mission to:

  • raise awareness,

  • bring representation, and

  • document my training with the Nepali people. They’ll be a big part of this journey too.

Why I want my blindness to be part of this Everest summit project?

Caroline is sat cross legged on some grass next to her guide dog, Bosley. She is smiling with her hands covering her eyes.

I am DeafBlind.. so what? For the longest time, I felt like I had imposter syndrome: ‘Did they accidentally swap my blood samples for genetic testing?’, ‘Did I charm a charity into gifting me a guide dog?’.

One day, I went for a routine eye test. An optician thought that one of the machines was faulty as they kept resetting it. It turns out, the machine was just fine; my eyes were the troublemakers. They said that I must visit an eye specialist at the hospital & that driving is a no-go. My heart sank, wondering what was going on.

8 years ago was the start of my journey into the world of fading sight. Grief arrived uninvited. At the same time, everything finally made sense, with my sudden clumsiness.

It was such a weird moment though. 4 years into uni, and all of a sudden I was going to lectures with a guide dog by my side. I could still make eye contact, read notes & even walk without my guide dog if I was feeling too stubborn! But wait, did anyone think I was faking the whole blindness thing?

Over time, I found my answer. I can't really blame them for their misconceptions. Heck, I even had my doubts when my eye specialist swapped my status from "partially sighted" to “blind”. What I Do blame, is the media for painting this stereotypical image of a blind person.

Slowly, I found my tribe where we swapped similar experiences like rare collectibles. Confidence and empowerment followed suit.

So, folks with Retinitis Pigmentosa/Ushers Syndrome like me? We are stubborn until our situation crashes like a car wreck before we surrender & seek help.

As I work towards this ambitious goal, my mission is to change how we are seen, blow away those misconceptions, and maybe, just maybe, crack the code of representing us blind dynamos right. Why Everest summit specifically? Well, that’s for another post...

Caroline is sat cross legged on some grass next to her guide dog, Bosley. She is smiling, with her eyes uncovered this time.

Touching connections

The role of the Nepalise Sherpa is often an unsung one. Their names are often forgotten, but they are crucial to any Everest expedition. 

As a DeafBlind individual, I recognise that establishing a strong connection with my team and refining communication skills with the Sherpas accompanying me is essential for this daring expedition. I want to elevate my mission beyond an individual pursuit by aspiring to conquer Everest alongside a local Nepalese DeafBlind companion. So, I am on a quest to find a fellow Nepali companion who, like me, sees the world through the distinctive lens of being DeafBlind and together we can make a meaningful impact on the world, extending beyond the realm of a personal challenge.

If you can help, please get in touch at info@deafblindeverestproject.com