Two things

I was wondering if any of you have heard about the following or if it is an urban legend. I heard from a good source that some burn centers are doing TT for free to obtain the skin. I have done some checking, and there really is a shortage of extra skin for burn patients. Apparently, they use extra skin as a cover until they can harvest skin from their own bodies. So, I have written to the largest burn center near me to see if this true and if so how to go about signing up. Anybody else heard of this. I have a lot to give away, so I hope it is true. The next thing is just a fun little thing. My gym has a climbing wall. It is the kind that moves as you do so you are never very high off the ground. Anyway, I never would have considered trying the darn thing a year ago for fear that the artifical rocks would pop off from my weight and for the simple fact that I wouldn't have been able to climb my fat ass up any of it anyway. So, since I am such the runner now ; ) I run in the morning then go to the club to lift and stretch. Yesterday, I got done lifting and I thought, I'm going to give that thing a shot today. I climbed on and to my surprise and delight I was able to do just fine and really enjoyed the workout. So now I have joined the Everest Club, and you track your climbs to reach Everest. I may take me years, but it is a fun switch and a great workout. As with running I'm sure I'll never set any records, but what the hell I can do it now and I couldn't before.

Hi Ken, I had heard something similiar to that about the skin when I went to a 'womens' group that I belong to. When I mentioned it to my doctor/surgeon he said it was a myth. They want the skin, but they are not going to do anything for free for it. It may be different in other places, but it sounds like in Baltimore it is not true. Good luck though. Hugs, Mo P.S. I am really impressed with the wall thing!!!

Ok, I just got a call from the Salt Lake Burn Center. They directed me to a company called LifeCell. I spoke to a very informative person with them who told me that they don't take live skin and that skin removal from WLS yeilds very little skin for their purposes. She suggested the individuals contact local tissue banks so see if they will accept live skin. So, as is the case with most things, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is!

Wow, Sounds Great. I have a summer home in Yosemite so let me know when you'll be there and I'll watch you climb Half Dome! what an accomplishment! Barb in CA having surgery May 10th.

Thats neat! The everest club to see how many climbs it takes equivalent to everest...that is a neat idea! Way to go on making your first climb! I still am shocked at some of the things I can do Its wonderful!

It is cool, and after you make it you get a T-shirt and all. But, as you have to climb in excess of 28,000 feet and I have now totaled 250 feet, it will take me awhile. But again, the point is that I can do it and I like it. I have to say, it works different muscles then running and lifting do. So, it will keep it fresh for me and fun. At the rate I'm going, it will only take me 2800 days of climbing or just over seven years.

I would love to do something like that at the gym! What fun! Isn't it amazing the different things that we can now do that we only dreamed about before? I joined my local volunteer fire dept!!!! It was a dream I always wanted to do. I'm a member of the Fire Police. We direct traffic around accidents and fire's. I wanted to help but I knew I couldn't go into burnign buildings too scared I knew I couldn't be a EMT I get ill at blood and when someone would be hurt I'd cry but I knew I could help out directing traffic! Believe me its alot harder & dangerous than it sounds. I love it makes me feel wonderful to be able to jump out of bed at 3am and run down those stairs grab my things and run. Sometimes I have to help lift people and sometims I have to run to get things the firemen need I'd never have been able to walk fast to get them before. This week my boyfriend is taking me to the bahama's. He wants to go kayaking on this 6 hours trip that they take you on. I can't swim!!!!! but they give you life preservers and I"m hopign to overcome my fear of not swimming and take this trip. I know I can do it! last year I wouldn't have been able to fit on the plane let alone a kayaka seat! Wish me luc****ep up that good work you'll be on top of the world!