📅 22 July 2024
Today was our day off, and we had the incredible opportunity to take a free cable car ride up the Zwölferhorn, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Mayor of St. Gilgen.
As we reached the top, the breathtaking panoramic views stretched out before us. Some people planned to take the cable car back down, but I had already made up my mind—I was going to hike down the mountain myself.
Hiking in the mountains had always been one of my biggest dreams, and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.
The Journey Down
We were a small but determined group—seven Latvians (me, my mum, Ance, Līva, Amanda, Ieva, and Anna) and one Estonian, Eki. We started our descent around 12:00 p.m., full of excitement.
Right from the beginning, we realised that using my wheelchair on this terrain was impossible. But giving up was never an option. The first two kilometres of the trail were relatively flat, allowing me to roll along. After that, we had to get creative. With the incredible help of Līva Tauriņa and Ance Straujā, I was half-carried, half-walked down the mountain.
It was far from easy. The trails were steep, rocky, and slippery, making every step a challenge. My mum, along with Ieva and Amanda, took turns carrying my wheelchair, and we all pushed forward as a team. The slow pace meant we had more time to soak in the incredible views, but the physical challenge was real.
Hikers passing us by gave curious, sometimes shocked looks, but their smiles and encouraging nods only made us more determined. We were doing something that most would think impossible.
Racing Against Time
The only problem? I had to be back at our school by 3:30 p.m. because I had a train to catch to Germany for a two-day medical visit to see a neurosurgeon in Ulm.
By the time we reached the final 250 meters, I was exhausted, and there was a mountain machine available to take us the last stretch. But I refused to take it—I had made it this far, and I was going to finish this journey on my own two feet.
My mum had gone ahead to bring the car, waiting for me at the bottom. We made it down at 3:44 p.m., and in a rush, we hurried back to school. It was a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled ending, but before I left, I had one last moment with my team.
I hugged them all, overwhelmed with happiness, gratitude, and pure emotion. I cried, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer joy of what we had accomplished together.
A Dream I Thought Was Impossible
When I first started using a wheelchair, I thought this dream would never be possible. How could I ever hike down a mountain? It felt unrealistic, unachievable—something that was simply not meant for me.
But as the saying goes:💬 "The right people will unconditionally support you and help you achieve your goals and dreams."
And that’s exactly what happened.
Thank You to My Mountain Heroes
❤️ Ance Straujā & Līva Tauriņa – Thank you for holding me, supporting me, never giving up, and quite literally helping me jump down the mountain! Without you, this wouldn’t have been possible.
❤️ My mum, Sandra Laudiņa – For carrying my wheelchair most of the way, even when it was tough. Thank you for believing in this adventure and making my dream come true. I love you so much!
❤️ Amanda, Anete Intsone, Ieva Solovjova, Anna & Eki – Your strength, kindness, and patience made this journey possible. Ieva and Amanda, thank you for carrying the front wheel and making sure I didn’t roll away! Anna, thank you for your speedy downhill support and for translating conversations when we needed it.
Together, we made the impossible happen.
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