Mountains began to cosume my thoughts. Secretly, I wanted to do something significant to help change the image that friends and family had developed of me. I had been cast in the role of patient. In spite of being very good in that role, I hated being a patient and desperately wanted to change my image. I wanted bruises to be earned from sports-related activities, not from needle pricks and aspirin-thinned blood. At this stage, my self-image was as important to my well-being as anything else. If, I figured, I could rebuild my strength and regain at least some of my former athleticism, an improved image would naturally follow.