Striving for the impossible: Sean Schwarner conquered the world’s highest peaks with one lung

Shawn Schwarner’s first goal was the 2.5 meters separating a hospital bed and a bathroom, but after that he managed to climb more than 8.5 km on his way to the summit of Everest. He became the first person to be cured of cancer and climb the mountain, the first to beat cancer twice, and the first to climb the seven highest peaks. By his example, Sean gives hope to many. How did he manage to maintain his optimism and love of life after two of the most severe forms of cancer?

Overcoming against the odds

Sean is the only person in the world who has ever been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease (lymph node cancer) and Ewing’s sarcoma (one of the most aggressive malignancies).
Doctors predicted he had no more than fourteen days to live. But Schwarner defied “expectations” and surprised the entire medical community when he came out of his coma and survived these serious illnesses within a year.

He managed to do what everyone thought was impossible – survive. The diseases didn’t go away though: after removing a golf ball-sized tumor, Shawn was left with only one fully functioning lung. It was then that the man realized that no challenge would ever be too big for him, no peak too high.

Everest is a symbol of hope

One day, when Sean was in the hospital, he saw an Ironman broadcast on TV. Then the man decided that if he managed to beat the disease, he would definitely take part in the competition. However, in the end he decided to start by conquering Everest, so that the highest peak in the world would become a symbol of hope for others.

The human body can survive for about 30 days without food and three days without water. But no living person can survive 30 seconds without hope.

Schwarner managed to climb the highest peak in the world and demonstrate his fortitude to everyone. After the first ascent, he decided not to stop there and continue conquering mountain peaks. Since then, Sean has climbed the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and Antarctica. He has also skied at both poles of the Earth and participated in the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.

Believe in the impossible

Sean’s example makes people around him believe that the impossible really is possible and gives others hope. In one of his interviews, he told about how a crying woman once came up to him after a speech. She confessed that after the conference she wanted to commit suicide: over the past six months, cancer had taken away her husband and son, and now she herself had been diagnosed with cancer. After hearing Schwarner’s story, however, the woman changed her mind. “She claimed I saved her life. I cried for a long time afterward,” was Shawn’s response when asked about the most memorable moment at his performances.

Schwarner founded a non-profit organization called the Cancer Survivors Association to rehabilitate those who have beaten cancer. He also told his story in an inspirational book, “Keep Climbing,” and now serves as a motivational speaker at schools, universities, and conferences around the world.

This story is not about superhuman strength or encouragement. It’s about total belief in yourself and your limitless possibilities. People like Sean inspire everyone to dream bigger and strive for the impossible.

“You must learn to focus on the end result before you go for it. That way you will get rid of the pesky thoughts of possible disappointment because in your head you are already at the goal,” Sean believes.