Rosie and I built a new home on property we had owned for 15+ years in Ashford, WA in the summer of 2009.
We found a treasure in meeting and being befriended by Bronka Sunstrom. We had met Bronka on the Muir snowfield over the years as she and her beloved husband of 64 years passed by and conversed with and encouraged thousands of hikers and climbers vying for the 10,080 ft base camp for the standard route up 14,411ft Mt Rainier, a 4,630 vertical foot gain, 8 mile round trip. She and Ake had made the trip as many as 50 times a year.
She has taken us under her wing and often accompanies us on our short mini hikes when we take our doggies out for their 60 minute minimum constitutionals daily. Sometimes on the levy by Bronkas home on the Nisqually River. Occasionally on the Muir snowfield, Rose has skied and snowshoed in the winter with Bronka in Mt Rainier National Park. Bronka lives 3/8 of a mile from the park, we live 1/2 of a mile from Bronka. Yes, she has walked over.
We love Bronka and want to share with others that love her all that is going on with her. And there's a lot. She does not have the ability to "broadcast" as she does not have an internet connection. It came after her time. Bronka will turn 86 August 15.
btw, Bronka was the oldest women to summit Mt Rainier @ 77. She did the round trip in 19 hrs.
Please feel free to contribute about Bronka.
ReplyDeleteex:
Bronka has a kidney infection and is on antibiotics. She felt poorly last week on our trip to Camp Muir and we called it at 2:00 (as agreed on in the parking lot prior to our start) at Moon Rocks, over 9,000ft.
Today, still ill and on antibiotics, in the hot sun (rare on the 4th), Rose caught her staining her deck. Bill Crone, the best friend a person could have, got wind of it and hopefully convinced her to "take it easy". Good one Bill:) Yesterday Bill and Pam Crone came down (from Fall City) so that Pam (a nurse) could check out the swelling in Bronka's ankles and legs. They also gifted Bronka a new battery powered weed eater so that Bronka could stop using scissors to trim her lawn edges as the gas powered weed eater is too much to deal with.
Tomorrow Bronka has company. I'm sure she will want to clean before and after and of course cook for and feed her guest.
Yesterday, a friend, Deb. Brought over a gift for Bronka and left a box on our door step as we were not home at the time. It was a round tub of Bronka's favorite Swedish type crackers. I took it over to Bronka's. Bronka was so delighted and told me how much she likes the crackers. She has never met Deb and wanted her address to thank her for them.
ReplyDeleteBronka also showed me her swollen legs. She had an angel of a neighbor stop by the night before and visit Bronka. Her neighbor is a massage therapist and had Bronka lie back and she gave her a good leg massage. Bronka said she felt so much better. That really helped with her circulation.
Please pray for Bronka's health as I will be taking her in for tests on Wednesday, July 6.
Yesterday, July 6, 2011, I (Rose) drove Bronka to Allenmore in Tacoma for her ultrasound appointment to have her heat checked as her doctor thought she may have heart problems due to the swelling in her legs.
ReplyDeleteAfter her scan, she found that the technician was a hiker and got into a conversation with him. He also told her, her heart was fine, which was a relief.
After the scan we walked over to her doctor’s office, Dr. Olsen. Dr. Olsen used to be Ake’s doctor. Dr. Olsen is also a good friend who had gone skiing with Ake and Bronka. Bronka truly trusts her.
Dr. Olsen checked the swelling in her legs and told her that her swelling had actually improved from last week. Dr. Olsen suggested she wear special hose on her legs. She also scheduled another ultra sound next Tuesday, to check her kidneys. Dr. Olsen will decide what to do next after results.
Bronka seemed good natured after the ultrasound and seeing her doctor.
Bronka and I went down to the hospital cafeteria and had a nice lunch of vegie burgers and great conversation. After lunch, I asked Bronka if Dr. Olsen said it was okay to go hiking because of the swelling in her legs. Bronka said she did not ask her, so we went back to the doctor’s office and asked the doctor. The doctor said it is okay for her to go hiking. As always, I get to spend time with Bronka and listen to all of her wonderful stories. We also had fun with rest of the day shopping.