Over The Edge

23rd of October 2018

Since getting out of the hospital, I've been more restless than normal. I can't sit still for longer than 10 seconds. I can't get to sleep because I'm tossing and turning so much. Hell, I can't even stay inside for long because I feel like I need to do something.

For a long time, I've wanted to do something so outrageous, there'd be pictures at my funeral for it. It wasn't just anything though; I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go OVER THE EDGE.

For those that don't know, Over The Edge is a fundraiser put on by the Special Olympics in which if an individual raises $1,000, they rappel off the side of a building (in this case, the Financial Building at 666 Walnut Street in Des Moines, Iowa). The building is listed at 25 floors on Wikipedia and stands at 345 feet. It's the fourth largest building in Des Moines, Iowa. It was once the tallest in Des Moines until 1973 when the Ruan Center was built. Yes, this is the building I rappelled off the side of to raise money for the Special Olympics.

I tried hard to get donations for this event. I really wanted to help raise the required $1,000. However, I came up short. Since I was already scheduled to rappel, they let me go anyway. I have always had a fear of heights. This was a perfect way for me to face that fear. I'm glad I did, too. I didn't mention to my doctors that I was scheduled to do this event because I didn't think they would let me. I was bound determined to do this so I could help the Special Olympics and face my fear of heights.

It started with a small training which took about 30 minutes. Once the training was done, we had a trial run. If I had fallen on this trial run, the most I would have had for injuries are broken legs. My nerves were still shot though. It was about 20, maybe 30 feet. Lowering myself into the starting position was difficult for me because my legs were so tense. If I had loosened up a little, I probably would have done better. But this was the trial run. I got through it, and now, it was time for the real thing.

There was 4 of us. One of the Special Olympics Athletes, the woman helping with the athlete, another rappeller and me. We went to the top of the Financial Building and got ready for the real thing. I let the other 3 go first. I wanted to get it all together before I went, and the others had done this before.

When it was my turn, I was ready. Of course, I didn't have a choice. It was do it or back out. One of the donations I got was from a friend's children who pooled money together, so backing out was NOT an option. I got up, and I lowered myself into position. I did better this time than the trial run. I'm not sure why I was so tense on the trial run, but it gave me a chance to get the nerves out. I was at a 90 degree angle with the building. I walked down step by step until I past the top overhang of the building onto the windows and pillars. I lowered myself slowly so the contraptions didn't lock up. If they locked up, then I would have had to motion my arms to the people on the top so I can unlock myself. I didn't want that to happen. As I was lowering, I would look around the city at the views that I wouldn't see again unless I do this again (that's in the plan). It took me about 10 minutes to get to the ground (watch it here)

So back to the doctors. I was out of the hospital for only a couple of weeks. The defibrillator was only in for a few weeks. When I went to the doctor the next day, they asked me what I was doing at around 5 to about 5:30. I told them about Over The Edge, and they informed me that my heart had reached a rate of 209 (heart attack is 220). I was amazed, but I would be more amazed later on when my friend Melissa (she's the one taking the video) informed me that I went down at about 5:45. So my heart rate was high only during the trial run.

This was quite a rush, but I'll have to talk to my doctors before I do it again. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, but then again, I was bound determined to do it. I knew I wasn't going to die. I just had a feeling I was meant to rappel that building. I still hate heights, but I now know I can face them. I also know I can face any fear. In fact, once I was given clearance by the doctors to go to the gym, the first machine I went to was the stairmaster, the very machine I fell off of to cause all of these changes. It wasn't that machine that sent me to the hospital. It could have been any machine, and I needed to show myself that.