== Profile ==
Name: Abby Atkinson
Age: 25
Years with T1D: 6 months
Age at diagnosis: 24
From: Grand Junction, CO (Currently live in Denver)
Years climbing: 1 year seriously, 7 or 8 years here and there
Favorite type of climbing: Bouldering!!
Goals: My biggest goals right now are to make life with diabetes feel normal, to graduate from college, to experience new parts of the world and to become a stronger climber.
Contact: [email protected]
== Bio ==
I started climbing several years ago but wasn’t totally hooked until last year when someone introduced me to the bouldering gym. I bought my first pair of climbing shoes and joined the gym’s cleaning crew to become more involved with the climbing community. Around the same time, my life began to unravel and I was struggling to keep up in school, work, and my relationships. I attributed my weight loss, exhaustion, temper, and depression to a recent break-up and the normal struggles of being a twenty-something working my way through life and school. After feeling like a zombie for months I couldn’t ignore my symptoms any longer and landed in the emergency room (during finals week no less!) with a blood glucose level of over 1,000. It was terrifying, intimidating, and overwhelming yet it felt really good to finally know why I had felt so badly for so long.
Six months after starting on insulin, I feel better than I have in years. I am able to think clearly and have energy to put towards my passions which include climbing, sustainability, and design. I am honored to be a part of Team Living Vertical and hope to show the world that no matter how hard it may be, you can conquer your fears and do something incredible. I am terrified of heights, but that is part of what attracts me to climbing. When I finish a route or make it to the top of the wall I am filled with a sense of accomplishment from knowing that I faced my fears and overcame them. It gives me the confidence to know that I can handle whatever life throws my way.
I love how climbing gives me a break from the normal stress of life. When you are clinging to the wall 10 feet in the air with nothing but a mat below you, nothing matters except the next move you are going to make. There is no room in your head for wicked thoughts, regrets, or fears. No time to worry about chronic illnesses, lost love, or the dishes piling up in the sink. Every last bit of strength and focus is dedicated to climbing, otherwise you fall.
