[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO SEAN SWARNER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sean 
Swarner, a fellow climber and an enormously courageous young man.
  When he was just 13 years old, Sean was diagnosed with Hodgkin's 
disease and was given a mere three months to live. With his family's 
support, prayer, and resolute determination, he beat the disease. Just 
one year later, doctors found a golf-ball sized tumor in his right 
lung. The diagnosis was Askin's sarcoma. This time, doctors gave him 
just two wees. Again, he beat back the disease with his tremendous 
resolve. Still, the cancer left him with just one functioning lung.
  Sean Swarner is now 30 years old. He is the only person known to have 
survived both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. Given his unique 
life experience, Sean has a sense of purpose unusually focused for a 
young man. Sean decided to climb Mount Everest in part to prove that 
people facing cancer can survive and go on to accomplish things most 
people never even think to try. When setting out to plan his trip, he 
said ``most of the outfitters told me that there's no way they would 
take a one-lung, two-time cancer survivor lunatic up the highest 
mountain in the world.'' Once he was actually on the mountain he says, 
``the sherpas were kind of scared too because in Nepal there is no such 
thing as a cancer survivor.''
  Sean Swarner is the only known cancer survivor to reach the summit of 
Mt. Everest. He has also climbed Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt. Elbrus in 
Russia and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. He hopes to complete the 
``adventure grand slam'' which means summiting the highest peak on each 
of the seven continents and visiting the North and South Poles.
  Sean visits young people with cancer after each of his climbs and 
during his training. While this is tremendously rewarding because it 
lifts their spirits, it is also very difficult because he is so 
familiar with what the kids are going through. Still, his example gives 
them a role model who has conquered what they are going through and 
hopefully gives them inspiration to believe that they too can conquer 
the mountains before them.
  Sean Swarner's courage and kindness are qualities to which we should 
all aspire. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Sean 
Swarner--a great climber, Coloradan and human being. I wish him 
continued success on his future climbs.

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