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Interview with Reg Spence: A second chance, Part I of II
16:52 p.m. EST Mar 2, 2004
Explorers and adventurers come in all shapes and sizes –big, tall, small, guys, girls, experienced, not experienced, etc. . . But what most of them have in common is that it all started out with a thought or a dream. A little bit ago we received an email from Reg Spence, inquiring about Polar travel and transplant patients – you see, Reg is the recipient of a donor liver.
Though not without complications sometimes, transplant patients have been active in the adventure community. Just recently, Kelly Perkins, who’s had a heart transplant, has scaled Kilimanjaro and also the Matterhorn – it’s possible! So we decided to interview Reg about his idea of skiing to the South Pole and what we soon learned is that Reg got a second chance at life, and he doesn’t plan on wasting it.
An ExplorersWeb interview with Reg Spence:
Today, part one: The story behind the transplant
Wednesday, part two: Motivation, concerns, and finding a partner
Today, part one: The story behind the transplant
ExWeb: Reg, how'd it come about that you needed a liver transplant?
Reg: A question I’m asked often and my toughest to answer because it doesn't reflect who I am today. I suppose, it’s the logical thing to ask. I lost my liver due to alcohol and prescription drug abuse. It started when I was child. I grew up in a very abusive and destructive environment. It was the only life I knew, and it was a rough one.
I haven't had a drink in over 7 years. So this is truly my second chance at life and I intend on living it to the fullest. I have a wonderful support system in place and have had more support than I could have imagined.
I understand, some people may not understand my past, but I don't see it as a hindrance, I see it as something I survived and then conquered. It made me stronger and more resilient. Possibly more willing to carry out things many ordinary people wouldn't try.
ExWeb: By the time the organ became available, how serious a conditions were you in?
Reg: Three days before I was transplanted, I was in a coma induced by ammonia levels going to the brain. My family came to the hospital and was told that I may not survive the night. Surprisingly the next morning, I came back to a sort of semi-consciousness. I seemed better for the day but the next morning started to fade again.
My family and I knew I wasn't leaving the hospital ward this time. The next evening, three days before my birthday, on April 5, 1998, a nurse came in with a bottle of cleansing liquid to drink and told me I was scheduled for a transplant the next morning at 10:00. I couldn't have lasted more than a few days. My transplant physician told me I was hours from death.
I was extremely lucky because I was only on the transplant list for 1 ½ weeks when an organ became available, or I wouldn't be here right now. So, indeed, I was as sick as a person can get.
ExWeb: What prompted this idea to ski to the Pole?
Reg: I have an adventurous type personality so I picked up a novel on Mallory & Irving. As strange as it may sound, when I saw a picture of Mallory it triggered something in me. The confidence that radiated from him inspired me to want to be an explorer. In that moment I was hooked and can't explain why. I don't have very many heroes, if any, but there is something that sets explorers apart from the pack that intrigues me.
All the same, I thought, how could I climb a mountain like Everest? It would take me 10 years of training and at the time I was 37. Four years later, I went on the Internet because I ran out of literature on mountain climbing. I found ExplorersWeb and learned about polar exploration and the bells starting ringing. A few months later, I sent an email to you guys and here we are now.
ExWeb: Do you have any cross-country or sledge hauling experience?
Reg: I have lots of downhill and water skiing experience but no cross-country. I haven't even seen a hauling sled up close. But, I sure will in training.
ExWeb: You train on a regular basis - how do you plan on getting ready for an unsupported SP Trek? Do you plan on doing any preparatory trips up north?
Reg: I plan on doing a variety of things. I plan on taking a 10-day polar training course offered by North Winds, constantly increasing my cardio, staying with the same weightlifting program, which is two hours every second day, spending a great deal of time pulling tires on a harness, taking cross-country skiing lessons and training for cross-country endurance almost every day in winter of 2004. I’m only 15 minutes from the slopes and I work from home. I want to get up to Whistler/ Blackcomb on weekends. I will be reading as much as possible on cold weather survival and polar exploration.
ExWeb: How does a transplant affect your physical abilities - how do you perceive this will impact your expedition?
Reg: I haven't had any problem with vigorous exercise in the past 6 months. At two hours of cardio a day and two hours weight training every other day, I feel only more energized. Most of the time I have too much energy. Transplant recipients complain all the time about fatigue but in my case I haven't experienced it. So, physically, I don't foresee a problem.
There is a concern with the anti-rejection medication affecting me in an adverse way in the cold temperatures but that shouldn't be a problem. I have never read anything on anti-rejection drugs reacting due to the cold. Although, I don't think a transplant recipient has been in such extremes. As a transplant patient, I have to be vigilant about infection and rejection. As far as my regular blood tests, I have blood drawn every 2 or 3 months so that shouldn't be a concern timing wise.
The impact on my expedition should be minimal. I don't believe it will be much different than anyone else. In the Gym, I can work as hard or harder than the others. I am moving to outdoor workouts and again no problem so far. The cold I know will sap my energy but I'll do as much cold weather training as possible. True things can go wrong but that is why it is extraordinary. I will be monitoring my health closely and having as many tests done as possible before leaving.
Wednesday, part two: Motivation, concerns, and finding a partner
Image of Reg courtesy of Reg Spence.
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