"With Atherosclerosis, I Conquered the Himalayas"

"With willpower, determination, and persistence, one can travel and see the world. Yes, even with physical limitations," Drora Baharal begins our conversation. For her, these aren't theoretical words, but come from experience—she's 78, after bypass surgery and diagnosis of atherosclerosis, leading to 70% disability. Yet, she doesn't give up on a hobby she has enjoyed since youth: hiking, even on demanding and challenging trails.

This drove her in recent years to travel through diverse countries worldwide. Sometimes by off-road vehicles, hiking, ferries, air, and sea. "Nature is so amazing—how can you not enjoy and be amazed by it?" she asks with a smile, four months after returning from her last trip. "So yes, sometimes I feel it's hard, but I definitely haven't outgrown adventure. One can keep traveling even in old age and with disabilities. You just need to want to."

Between Life and Death

Atherosclerosis isn't the only challenge Drora faced. Her first encounter with life's difficulties was at age 30, when she was suddenly widowed and left with her two young children—six-and-a-half and three years old. "It was a huge shock and difficulty," she recalls, "especially since those days I had to support them on my own, without even having a profession yet. But I quickly realized bitterness is easy, but if I really want to help myself, I have to learn and work. So I started studying history, earning a degree and a Ph.D. Throughout my studies, I used every leisure day and vacation to go on trips and hikes with the kids. It is a hobby that has accompanied me as long as I remember, and I never neglected it. It is part of my life."

"My life has always been busy and intense," she adds. "During my studies, I was a teaching assistant at Tel Aviv University, all while raising the children and investing in other areas. Truthfully, throughout the years, I dreamed of retirement, when I'd have more time to travel worldwide and discover fascinating places. It's something that always interested me. But I never imagined I'd develop a condition that would prevent me from continuing to travel."

Her atherosclerosis was discovered quite unexpectedly. "I was about to head to Kenya," Drora shares. "Just before the flight, I noticed red spots on my feet and thought it must be an allergy. I chose not to neglect it and consulted a dermatologist. She examined me and asserted the issue wasn't skin-related but vascular. She referred me to a vascular specialist at Tel Hashomer, and he quickly diagnosed the need for surgery."

How did you feel receiving such news?

"Truthfully, I was shocked. I couldn't believe such a condition was developing in me. Although, for years prior, walking was challenging, and I complained about it, I never imagined I'd have an arterial blockage."

Drora had the surgery, her condition improved, and she flew as planned. However, about a year and a half later, the bypass performed during surgery fully blocked, and her leg was at risk of amputation. "I was rushed again into surgery, and this time it was very complicated," she recounts. "The only thing I remember is screaming to the doctors: 'I have no air, I'm not breathing!' Then I lost consciousness for five days during which the doctors fought for my life. They themselves told me my condition was critical, but apparently, the Creator had decided it wasn't my time to leave this world." Her next memory is of waking in intensive care. "I opened my eyes and saw around me the room with all the resuscitation equipment. Only then did I realize how dire my situation was, and that I had experienced a miracle."

Drora recovered, but her leg never regained its previous state. "I am limited, I have a 70% disability, and it's not something that goes away," she acknowledges resignedly. "It's very frustrating to see others walking easily while I'm dragging behind. Initially, it was extremely challenging, but I never considered it a signal to stop. On the contrary, the collapse I experienced made me realize how short life is. So, I need to enjoy every single moment. This is true in all respects; I learned significant lessons. I decided to accomplish as much as possible in life."

Never Resting

Back when Drora still worked as a teacher, she only traveled during summer holidays, but since retiring, she has increased her travel frequency. "I became the 'traveling grandma'," she jokes, "I fly to many countries worldwide, visiting places like the Himalayas and Nepal. I don't just travel, but also photograph and document landscapes, places, and portraits. This naturally requires a lot of effort, because these are not simple tours, but lengthy journeys, some in areas with very thin air due to high altitude, or where you need to walk long hours on steep climbs while the body doesn't always obey the demands. Sometimes, even walking from the jeep to the hotel is a challenge. It's important to understand that my trips sometimes happen when everything around is frozen, with travel occurring within mountains of snow."

So, how do you manage this?

"I quickly realized it would be difficult to adjust to the schedules and outputs of organized groups, so I preferred hiring private guidance. This allows me to manage at my own pace and in a way that suits me. Since retiring, I take two or three trips a year. Recently, I also published a book called 'Conquering the Himalayas – Traveling with Disability,' documenting my travel journals and photographs. The book is currently available in bookstores."

Cover of the book Conquering the Himalayas - Traveling with Disability

However, during her last trip, about four months ago, something unexpected happened. Three weeks into her foreign journey, Drora contracted a virus followed by another particularly aggressive virus. "Instead of traveling for six weeks, I barely managed three weeks," she notes regretfully. "I had no choice but to return home. It was a miracle that the local doctor accompanied me throughout and even made it to the airport with me. The greater miracle was, thank God, I managed to return home safely."

But if anyone thinks Drora decided to stay between four walls, they clearly don't know her. Nowadays, she travels extensively across the country. "I discovered our wonderful country is no less beautiful than many places in the world. I've come to know the Golan Heights and other spectacular areas. By the way, even for domestic trips, I go with a private guide because there is so much I want to hear and learn about."

And what do the doctors say about their patient who can't stay put?

Drora smiles. "About 20 years ago, when the doctor heard about my plan to travel the world, he protested vocally, mainly out of concern for me and my leg. When I returned and told him I had traveled in the Himalayas, he found it hard to believe, but when he saw that my physical state only improved, he began to understand that I'm responsible and not putting myself at risk. Since then, he actually cooperates joyfully but insists that I undergo thorough checks before each trip."

She also has a message for all who love to travel: "Continue to believe in yourself, and know that you can always travel and see the world. It doesn’t matter if it’s domestic or abroad, in a wheelchair or on foot; as long as you desire—you can always fulfill your dreams. I am the proof."