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The following article appeared in The Ottawa Citizen, Thursday, May 21, 2001 Temperatures soar, conditions worsen as team reaches IranMike
Nemesvary
"Pakistan heat
wave claims thirty-three more lives." These are two of the travel advisories received this week as Mike and the team prepared to cross the Iran/Pakistan border, where temperatures are regularly exceeding 50C. When this Challenge was being planned, we were told this leg of the trip (Iran, Pakistan and India) presented the most potential for danger and the most difficult driving conditions. Concerns include religious clashes, kidnapping, vehicle theft, bribery, police detainment or border problems. There is the increased potential for accidents or breakdowns in the remote mountains and deserts. And, finally, the real possibility of health problems because of the heat and unsafe food and water. Mike spoke of a potentially dangerous situation at one of many police checkpoints throughout Iran. "The police officers were totally indifferent to everyone's situation and my disability. Due to the extremely hot weather, we were anxious to keep the motor running in the vehicle to increase the function of the air conditioning. They actually made us get out of the vehicle and we were asked not to go anywhere. During our detainment, I showed the officers a letter from the Canadian Ambassador in Iran; they would not even look at it and could not care less." What might have been an annoying delay for some had the potential to be life-threatening for Mike. Quadriplegics are not able to sweat, and if body temperatures are not kept low (or high) enough, their bodies become hypothermic -- seizures and even death are real possibilities. We have learned that the truck's air-conditioner is working to capacity and still not keeping the truck cool enough. Further, we know that Mike has already overheated on at least one occasion. Then there are the accessibility issues. "After a long day's drive, we finally arrived in Kerman, Iran around 8:45 pm. The suggested hotel was not accessible; no ramps. And, at the top of the first flight of stairs, the door was locked. George ended up having to piggyback me up two flights of stairs." Mike himself does not dwell on the harsh realities of his quadriplegia. He focuses on his abilities, constantly pushing himself to the limit. This drive and ambition are the qualities that have kept Mike going in the 16 years since his injury. But it is these same qualities that sometimes need to be bridled to avoid jeopardizing Mike's health, the team's safety or the success of this immense undertaking. To the average able-bodied person, the concept of driving around the world may sound ambitious, but not necessarily life-threatening or physically challenging. For most of us, driving is commonplace and relatively easy. But Mike is a high-level quadriplegic, paralyzed from the nipple line down. George Swinimer has been with Mike since the start of the Challenge, providing most of his basic daily care, and he wrote in a recent e-mail: "First and foremost, driving is difficult. Across every possible landscape, weather and road condition imaginable for eight hours a day, six days a week. Then factor in the fact that our driver is a quadriplegic. ... Muscle spasticity, a greater concentration requirement due to more sensitive controls. "The long hours of driving are interspersed with countless media interviews and visits to rehabilitation centers, vehicle repairs, communication, documentary shooting and logistics. Add to this the four to five hours daily required for Mike's morning and evening personal care and the picture becomes somewhat clearer. There have been several consecutive 21 hour days - we average little more than four hours sleep a night. ... Personal space and general sanity become issues." George goes on to give more insight into Mike's daily care routine. This is the kind of thing that Mike does not like to highlight. The last thing he wants is pity. But the rest of us feel it is critical to giving the public a better sense of why this project is a true challenge; why we all think of Mike as a hero and an athlete. "How long does it take you to go through your morning wake up ritual? For most men, probably about 20 minutes; jump out of bed, shower, brush the teeth, shave, dress and you're done. And if you're paralyzed from the nipple line with no use of your hands? The morning ritual includes time-consuming toilet routines, as Mike does not have any control of bodily functions. This is followed by a careful routine to get Mike clothed, out of bed and into his wheelchair. Then we set up the toiletries: cologne, electric toothbrush, water with straw, three tablets of anti-spasmodics, hairbrush, hair-dryer. Putting on Mike's gloves (to keep the fingers from curling up and provide a convenient place to stick a fork) is the final step of the routine. Toneless curled fingers must be gently placed inside the glove, each finger individually. This alone takes five to 10 minutes." We worry about infections that Mike deals with constantly, particularly when he pushes himself too hard. Unsafe water and food that might lead to a mild case of diarrhea for us could lead to severe dehydration and health problems for Mike. Now, we worry about the extreme heat. In addition to George and local escorts, Mike now has Jason Liuzzo, an Ottawa nurse, travelling with him. This provides all of us with more comfort. May 18 was the 16th anniversary of Mike's injury. "Even though this day will have an emotional side, it will also be very therapeutic for me, being in Pakistan, on this day, doing what I am doing."
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