I knew you could do it!
Again, the quote from John Muir:
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

Burt
Columbia, SC

Patrick - Words fail me. You have become one of nursing's "firsts." We are so proud of you. Come down safely. -peggy

Way to go, Pat! What an accomplishment not only for yourself, but also for the nursing profession. Good luck on the way down! We all are still cheering for you! Rahn

Hey Pat
I was at work last night and read Carol's message on the blog that you had made it to the summit I cheered outloud. Glad you made it to the top. I have been reading Bear Grylls book "The Kid Who Climbed Everest" and I like this quote of his. When asked "how does it feel to have conquered Everest?" Bear replied "I didn't conquer Everest-Everest allowed me to crawl up one side and stay on the peak for a few minutes." Perhaps you can relate to that.
Any how stay safe on the trip back down and how it must feel to belong to a rather small elite group of people who managed to summit Everest. Look forward to meeting you some time after you return home .
Take care and congratulations to you and the rest of your group.

Best wishes
Susan Danieley

You earned it with hard work. We're all proud of you.... Come home safe!
Bob Syrett

We're in awe of your accomplishment! You remain in our thoughts and prayers as you begin the descent. The Wells Family (Ashley USC Nursing '07)

Pat,
Hello from Oak Pointe Elementary School in Irmo, SC. Ashlyn Glenn is in our 4th grade class. We have been checking on your progress and we are so excited you reached the summit! It has been a great experience for all of us. We read about Mt. Everest earlier this year. It is so exciting to read and hear from someone that is really there. Be careful and congratulations on this incredible accomplishment!

Mrs.Dawna Grosse and our 4th grade class

You did it!! We're all so excited for you and your team. Now you and Carol can get on with the rest of your lives! Be careful coming back down the mountain and have a safe trip home. See you soon!

Gene

You've done it...you da man!!! Thanks for sharing your climb with us. Your audio from C4 was awesome, and a relief to hear your voice. You said before, that after Everest, you would hang up your ice axe! With this accomplishment, perhaps hanging them in a shadow box frame to commemorate your achievements would be a good thing. As for the garage sale of gear...just an idea, but perhaps an auction (online?) to benefit the Summit Scholarship!?! (Everything autographed, of course!) We are excited for you and proud to call you Friend!
Stay safe, Cathy and Kevin

Pat, hearing your voice from up there was a treat. I am so proud of you. What perseverance! Love to you and Carol. David

Hey, Superman Pat, FANTASTIC NEWS. I saw Carol's blog earlier and was so happy to hear your voice just now. Congrats on being the first nurse to make all 7 Summits (in 7 years, right?) So perfect to happen in 2007. I am so excited for you, so happy for you and Carol, so happy to hear you will be taking on a new chapter, your scholarship will live on, there will be many opportunities to promote this in the future. Your accomplishments are many. Take it easy on the way down, can't wait to hear from you as you descend to the other camps. We continue to send well wishes, luck and prayers to all of you. We send our love from our family to yours, Michele and Bill

Way to go uncle Pat!! I just finished reading aunt Carol's message and listening to your audio update and have since spread the word around the office. I can't wait to hear all about it when you're home and continue to take lots of pics.

Congrats!
Kelvin.

You all have been such incredible inspirations!!!
My sincere Thank Yous go out to you all!

Dreams do come true!

Sending all good things,
Jen
Chicago, IL
USA

Way to go ... a BIG congrats to you and your team. I can't imagine what a sense of accomplishment you must be feeling. We are all so proud of you ... we knew you could do it. All the best for the trek down ... stay safe! Sherri

Well done Pat Congratulations and Almonte should be verv proud of their native son. Keep safe Helen.

Congratulations from your fiends in Richland`s OR. It been exciting for us to follow your progress to the top. Looking forward to seeing pictures. Have a safe trip down.

Ira C

Congratulations to all of you. Yesterday was a nail biter, just great that you made it up.
We are now waiting for your message to say you are safely back at BC.
Take care, Bobby and Jess.

Absolutely fantastic Pat. What will power and energy.We are proud of you. Congratulations to the whole team!

Prithvi Reddy

Awesome! Nice Job! Sweet As! Thank God! Whew! Boy Oh Boy! At Last! Oh Man! Fantastic! Congratulations! Good Work! You Beauty!
What else can I say?

How nice to hear your voice Pat after an anxious wait. Can't wait to open a cold one for you all when you hit BC.
Mike, enjoy your time with Wendy. She's soooooooo excited and proud. As we all are dude.
See you at home.

Mat

I wish you could have heard the cheer this morning when the class read and listened to the blog and we realized that you have indeed stood at the top of Mt. Everest! What an accomplishment. Enjoy the rest of your trip and safe home.
CONGRATUALTIONS

Great great news Mike. Congratulations. You have achieved your dream. Wishing you a safe trip down. Enjoy your success. Cant wait to hear all the stories and see the photos. Well done.

Pinky

Pat,
Wonderful, Wonderful News !
We are very proud of you......what a great accomplishment.
Now get back down safely & enjoy eating, drinking, and Breathing !!
Will follow the blog for the more info as you return to basecamp....will keep praying for you. God Bless you,
Kurt, Donna, Em, & Kate.

Dr. Hickey,
I'm so proud of you! I can imagine how proud everyone else it of your accomplishment as well. You've always been an inspiration to me and now this just makes me want to...do something...probably just start marathoning again. I'll let you climb the mountains! Looking forward to seeing you back in Columbia, SC soon.

Amanda Charlton

Congratulations! I am in awe of your accomplishments!!! Prayers are with you on the descent. Margie Adkins

Pat - we are all thinking of you at AORN HQ - Rose and I both did an all staff message to alert everyone that you had made the Summit! Carina in the News Dept will probably pull together a story on your adventure and your scholarship fun for July Connections (I will be pushing it and advising where possible!).
Interesting to note we had snow at 9,000 ft last night and certain lower elevations passes (7-9000 ft) were troublesome for the morning commute (ice and wrecks) - so IF we we are having trouble here in the "lowlands" on this side of the world, I can all appreciate the elements you are enduring in the highlands!
can't wait to hear that you are safely on the "other side" of the icefall
Bonnie

Hey Pat - couldn't resist posting a second thought for tonight. I heard this REM song on the radio and thought of you doing the trek down from Camp 4 and 3 - Hold on - we are all with you. I am sure you are exhausted (and hopefully some level of exhiliariation at the same time?). I am sure you need rejuvenation as you return to BC. It must be boggling to absorb what you have experienced. Hold on to all of it - you are handling it. The "everybody hurts" line in this song is interesting to me - I am only so willing to hurt (wah, what a pansy I am) in comparison to what you have experienced. Guess we all have our own level of what hurts. But you have transcended what most of us have as a threshold.
We are all with you - can't wait to hear you are at Basecamp once again.
Bonnie

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on
'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on
Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone

Pat, please give our best wishes to your team members! Congratulations and a safe trip down to all!

Hey Big Brother,

You did it!! I can't express how proud I am of you! I called Carol last night around 10:00pm because I figured you would be summitting soon and asked her to call when she heard from you. Carol called me around midnight to give me the Great News that you had just called her from the Summit.

You had a goal and you perservered and accomplished what you set out to do!!!You should be very proud! I'm sure Sean was with you as you Struggled up the Mountain. Hope you have a couple of drinks in his honor as you know he is definetly having a couple of Irish whiskey's up there for you!

Dan & Sheri's Stag is Saturday night and wish you could be there but I will make sure I announce to the crowd that you made the Summit. I know the family will be having a few extra drinks for you to Celebrate your Accomplishment.
Take care on your descent and hope to hear from you on Sunday.

Again, Great Job!!

Anna and team, congratulations!!! Can't wait for another sherpa sheks report!! lots of love, Rebs xxxxxxxx

Hi Pat. Rhonda from Albuquerque again. Is there going to be any way that we can see all your photos? Thanks.

Hi, Pat! I am so excited for you! You are an inspiration to us all. I have kept you in my thoughts and prayers. Hope to see you when Kate has her big event in July. Have a safe journey home!