Battling uncertainty of top of mount Everest | Fabienne Sicot-Personnic | TEDxÉcoleCentraleLyon

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Fabienne's Journey

Fabienne, a 39-year-old French nurse with osteogenesis imperfecta and ankylosing spondylitis, aims to become the first person with her conditions to summit Mount Everest.
Her project, "Piolet de Verre" (Glass Ice Axe), involves climbing seven 4,000-meter peaks before attempting Everest.
Despite challenges such as the expedition's high cost, extreme conditions, and her medical uncertainties, Fabienne raises funds, trains extensively, and acclimatizes to high altitudes.

In March 2023, Fabienne arrives at the Mount Everest base camp and begins her ascent, facing harsh weather and medical challenges.
The narrator, also facing physical challenges due to Crohn's disease and spondyloarthritis, perseveres despite setbacks and dangerous situations such as an avalanche and icy slopes.
They describe the difficulties of using supplemental oxygen and the harsh conditions at Camp 4, known as the "death zone."
On May 17th, they set off for the final ascent, enduring extreme cold and strong winds.
At the South Balcony, 8,400 meters above sea level, the narrator experiences self-doubt but finds the strength to continue.
As the sun rises, they are rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

Fabienne successfully summits Mount Everest, becoming the 14th French person to do so despite her disability.
She plans to climb Mount Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world, without supplemental oxygen.
Fabienne believes that self-doubt and limitations imposed by others are often the biggest obstacles, not one's physical or mental abilities.
Despite criticism from some mountaineering professionals who consider her project suicidal, she sees it as a symbol of hope and possibility.
She emphasizes the importance of having the right support and belief in oneself to achieve one's goals.