Imagine yourself surviving cancer four times and receiving a heart transplant over a span of 17 years of your life. That's what Kyle Garlett has endured and conquered so far in his lifetime. The will power to live is what he's accustomed to and now comes the will power to overcome other obstacles in his way.
In 1989 he received his first Hodgkin's disease diagnosis as a high school senior. In 1995, during his third battle with the cancer, doctors ceased his chemotherapy treatment when they discovered it had weakened his heart. Two years later, Garlett learned he had secondary leukemia as a result of chemotherapy to treat the Hodgkin's disease. After five years on the waiting list, he received a new heart in 2006.
In 2007 he took up the challenge of attempting and finishing a triathlon, only 11 months after heart surgery. His Olympic distance triathlon accomplishment back then led him to attempt and conquer the ultimate triathlon challenge in the sport, the Ironman World Championship race in Kona.
Garlett was in Kona in 2009 to swim, bike and run the ultimate 140.6 mile challenge. Nervous, but confident he tried to do something that he never imagined attempting, but now could. Kyle was devastated when his day didn't go so well after missing the 2.4 mile swim cut-off by 7 seconds. His devastation probably lasted a few hours, but we saw him later that night at the finish line cheering on those athletes that were able to endure the challenges of the day. It was good so see him there.
A year later Garlett is back in Hawaii and is bound and determined to conquer the challenge the 2010 Ironman World Championship course has to offer this year. The 39-year old, who has been sick for almost half his life, is determined to finish the swim this year and make it out onto the Queen-K and then conquer the Natural Energy Lab while running towards the ultimate goal of the finish line on Ali'i Drive.
On Saturday, October 9th, 2010 he will face adversity one more time and try to accomplish what many people can't image ever attempting or ever have the chance to conquer. We wish Kyle the best on his IronWill endeavor!
Why Ironman? Why Kona? Why do something so hard?
"Well, because I can. Because I shouldn't be able to. Because for so long I couldn't. Because there are so many that I know who never will. Because the scars on my chest, hip, and shoulder tell my story. They tell the story of my heart donor - a man who exited this world far too early, but in death left behind the most precious gift imaginable."
"Because I can now finally scale this mountain. Because however big and challenging it may be, summiting this peak is no longer impossible. It really is this simple: because now I can."
To learn more about Kyle Garlett visit:
- Kyle-Garlett-From-Heart-Transplant-to-Ironman-Triathlon on Facebook
- Kyle's Ironman Journey website at www.ironmankyle.com
Related Content:
- Kyle Garlett's journey to finishing Ironman with a donor heart
