Carson Dodd: Into Thin Air and Back

Mt. Everest was indomitable in 2015. The Washington Post reported that 24 climbers perished. A one-fingered Japanese climber named Nobukazu Kuriki came the closest to summiting. He was within 2,300 feet of the summit but was forced to turn back due to high winds and snow storms.

It is a brisk December day and Kaladi Brothers is swirling with customers. My searching eyes spy the lanky young man with angular cheekbones and red hair. He is wearing his customary untucked long sleeve shirt and faded jeans. Words can’t describe the deep-rooted emotions that rise to the surface as we greet each other.

We settle into a vacant table. I ask Carson if he still has the rock from Mt. Everest. He nods. That rock was a gift from a special nurse. It signifies Carson’s personal Mt. Everest. He endured 85 days on that beast of a mountain. The wind ravaged ravines, barreling avalanches, broken ice bridges, and frostbitten fingers were hostile adversaries. Yet, it was the lungs screaming for air that almost led to his demise.

Carson exudes quiet strength and confidence. He graduated near the top of his class last spring from Wasilla High School. I always appreciated his ability to find the deeper meanings and make connections with the literature that we read in class. I also admired his kindness, acceptance of others, and empathy. His next chapter was attending Boise State in the fall.

Carson is a gifted soccer player and was an integral part of two region championships. He wore his school colors with pride and shouldered the responsibilities that come with wearing the captain’s band.

There was one training session where he pulled our ambivalent striker aside and diplomatically conveyed the importance of flipping oversized truck tires with Warrior pride. I will never forget his highlight goal in stoppage time last season—it was a rocket from 30 yards out that knuckled past the keeper and ripped the top netting.

Carson’s first semester was marred by unforeseen events. He didn’t get to watch football games on the sacred blue turf, listen to lectures, cram for tests, socialize with peers, or play club soccer. A trip to the medical clinic turned into a fight for life — Mt. Everest.

Oxygen is essential for survival and Carson’s lungs screamed for air. His world became a blur of doctors, nurses, tubes, machines, and numbers. I am still haunted by my phone lighting up in the darkness. Carson crashed; his lungs were failing—it was uncertain if he would make it through the night.

Carson’s mother held the phone to his ear. I told Carson that I loved him and that it wasn’t his time to go. He survived that night and spent 85 days total in the hospital. Every day is a battle but he is on a long road to recovery.

We are shaped by our experiences. Carson’s Mt. Everest is a reminder to not take time for granted. Life is precious and should be lived with purpose. Furthermore, it is essential to spend quality time with our loved ones while we can.

Carson Dodd went into thin air and came back. The mountain has been surmounted and he can finally focus on future endeavors. I hold Carson and his family close to my heart. We share a kinship that goes beyond most relationships. It is humbling to be part of his journey.

Welcome home Carson.

Blake Livingston teaches English at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School