THE CLIMB Kainoa Spenser summits life ʼ s challenges Finishing up sophomore year at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, Kainoa Spenser had no idea he was about to face the fight of his life. The international affairs major woke up one day not feeling well. The next day he passed out. Believing he was just exhausted from finals, Spenser tried to power through. He flew home to Arizona and was immediately rushed to HonorHealth. His organs were failing. It turned out he had Strep Group A, and while moving boxes out of his dorm room, bumped his leg. That turned into flesh-eating bacteria. Spenser was in a life or death situation. He was transferred to Mayo Clinic Hospital, where doctors put him into a medically induced coma. The flesh-eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis, ended up leading to the amputation of Spenser’s hands and lower legs. It’s impossible to imagine what it would be like to wake up in the hospital and hear this news; to find out that your life, at age 19, had been permanently altered. Grief and shock hit hard. When Spenser came to tape a recent episode of our podcast, Carey Peña Reports , I wasn’t sure what to expect. He had every right to feel bitter and angry, to wonder why this happened to him. But that is not the young man I met. Kainoa Spenser came in with his service dog, his mom and his Scottsdale-based fitness coach, Jesse Holland. His energy was magnetic. It’s the kind of energy we could all use more of. I wanted to interview Spenser not about the loss of his limbs, but about all that he has gained spiritually, emotionally and physically over the past year. And all he has given to others. HE RADICALLY IMPROVED HIS LIFE … AND LIVES AROUND THE WORLD “When I got out of the hospital a little over a year ago I was connected immediately with Kyle Maynard. He was born with congenital amputations. Seeing how he was able to transform that tragedy into something that is inspiring to all, and has radically improved his life and lives around the world, was cool to see. How he was able to turn his pain into … purpose,” Spenser explained. Inspired by Maynard’s story, Spenser got to work alongside Jesse Holland. The two met after Spenser spoke at an event for K2 Adventures, for which Holland is a mountain guide. They began to chart a course for Spenser’s recovery. “Kainoa often shows me and everybody what we can do. That we are not a victim,” Holland said. The first objective for Kainoa was to get back to holding a golf club and to have enough stamina to be able to swing. He met and surpassed that goal over the past year, having golfed in two tournaments. “Improving your mental health starts with improving Carey Peña | Contributing Writer CAREY’S CORNER {carey peña reports} 16 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JANUARY 2019

Spenser credits his family for providing the support heʼs needed to adjust, persevere and triumph over the past year. Spenser and the K2 Adventures team reached the summit of Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko, part of the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves in New South Wales. JANUARY 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 17