Senator Tom Brewer was our speaker At Lincoln South Rotary Club on March 18.
Tom treated us with a story of his experience when he and 4 other senators climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
He shared that he grew up north or Gordon, Nebraska near the Pine Ridge Reservation. His mother was Lakota and his father Irish - so a very mixed family. He spent a lot of time on the reservation.
His time in the military too him to many war zones. He served in areas of Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan. He was involved in active duty and has wounds from bombs and missiles. His hearing, vision, and physical health has been affected. He apologized that he needed to leave early (we switched up our club agenda to meet his schedule). He was schedule for MRIs to look at his wounds and determine surgery and therapy to.
During his time in the military he shared that it was a challenge. He remembered being prepared to fight the Russian Army. Then, in 2001, they had to shift gears to fighting the terrorists.
Then he shifted his focus to a bucket list item he had - to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He decided it was time and he connected with guides for the trip. His fellow senators heard of the trip and a few asked to join. The group that took the climb included Tom Brewer, Ben Hansen, Justin Wayne, Anna Wishart and David Murman.
Tom shared that an important aspect of the trip planning was a test run - in Colorado. They tested their equipment, learned how to use the equipment effectively, and tested their skills. It was a 12-hour trip up the mountain which was much shorter than their panned trip. But, it was good experience. With some training and adjustments in their equipment, they were ready to go.
Then Tom was diagnosed with Leukemia. He talked with his doctor. His trip was not cancelled. Not that the doctor, totally agreed. His 2-week chemo treatments were scheduled to allow him to take the trip between treatments.
Tom shared that the trip to Tanzania was not a good experience. He had his chemo treatment. The next day they started out on a 19-hour trip. They went to Detroit, then Amsterdam, then Tanzania, and then Kilimanjaro International.
There is a hotel at the base of the mountain where the teams stay. And, the tour leaders meet the teams there and inspect the equipment. That gives everyone an opportunity to replace less effective gear to be fully prepared for the climb.
So - the first day - Tom shared that he went from a chemo treatment, to a 19-hour trip to gearing up, and the starting up the mountain in 90 degree heat. He knew he was in trouble. He knew he needed to re-hydrate and be prepared for the next day. Do, the first night he stayed up most of the night drinking water. He had a splitting headache day 2, day 3 was much better.
He started to enjoy the adventure. He was put in the lead of his team - everyone thought he would be the best to set the pace. That would ensure that they were not over-exerting. They also met the other team that was traveling with their guides - a Netherlands Women's Soccer team. That team was young, in good shape, and really enjoying the experience. The teams enjoyed spending time together.
Kilimanjaro is a giant volcano. The highest mountain in North America is Denali - at about 15,000ft. Kilimanjaro is 20,000ft. Every day was the same with the same scenery like Groundhog Day. Climb - eat - sleep.
The view did change as they neared the top as it was more rugged. For the last stretch they camped at about 17,000ft. It was tough to breath. It was very vertical.
They got up at midnight, ate a snack and headed up. As they neared the top it was about 22 below with the windchill and their camelbacks were freezing so they had no water. It was getting harder and harder to breath. Tom was still the lead - he could see a posted sign and thought that was where everyone would take their "we made it" photo. He thought "okay - we can me this". But, when he reached that sign he realized it was not the sign. He was exhausted and took a knee. The doctor assigned to the group checked on him and put on an oxygen mask. They had 200 yards to go.
Adrenaline rush! Made it to the top! They could see "forever".
Here is a trailer to a documentary that will be available in April: https://www.dropbox.com/s/01ogcjzlz31ghuo/Full Trailer.mp4?dl=0
BIO:
Sen. Brewer is a retired US Army Colonel. He served our nation in uniform for over 37 years.
He grew up on and near the Pine Ridge Reservation. He is a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe.
He began his career as an enlisted man in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Sen. Brewer attended college at Doane University in Crete on an ROTC scholarship.
His service in the military included six tours in Afghanistan. His last tour was cut short after his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while he was changing a tire. Brewer suffered severe injuries, including shrapnel wounds, a punctured eye and shredded ligaments. He holds two Purple Hearts.
Sen. Brewer is a Republican member of the Nebraska State Legislature representing the 43rd district comprising thirteen counties in the Western Nebraska Sandhills. He was first elected in 2016 and is the first Senator of Native American descent to serve in Nebraska’s Unicameral.