20091009 -- Hsineh Chih-Mou (2)

Hsineh Chih-Mou

Persevering through medical challenges

During the next eight years, Hsieh finished his Ph.D. and took groups of at-risk youth on outdoor wilderness trip. Then in 2006, a serious heart attack permanently damaged his heart. Consequently, his weakened heart now supplies only 55 to 60 percent of the total oxygen that a healthy heart pumps.

Only four months after heart surgery, he led a group of university students on a sea kayaking trip in Alaska. For Hsien, falling into the near-freezing Alaskan water with his heart condition would almost certainly be fatal. Two weeks in such dangerous water taught him and his group lessons about overcoming fear with courage and faith. Hsieh accepted an even greater challenge in the Himalayas the following summer. The oxygen-poor air at great heights causes a person's heart to work extra hard. Hence, climbing mountains is expecially risky for people with heart disease. Until that summer, no one with Hsieh's heart condition had ascended above 4,500m, By climabing the 6,189m Island Peak, he set a new record for altitude among people with his heart condition.


surgery n. 手術
eg: Alex will need to stay in the hospital for two days after his surgery.

fatal adj. 致命的
=> causing or leading to death
eg: Jonathan was in a car accident, but fortunately it wasn't fatal.
eg: This contagious disease might be fatal.
eg: The fatal car accident took his life.
eg: The coach made a fatal mistake and lost the game.

hence adv. 因此
= therefore
=> for this reason
eg: These computers are compact and inexpensive. Hence, they are popular with students.

ascend v. 攀登/上升/登上
eg: It takes 15 minutes to ascend those stairs, so I always take the elevator.
eg: The mountaineers were slowly ascending to the peak.

descend v. 下降
eg: The airplane is descending to the airport right now.

persevere v. 堅持不懈
=> persist
persevere in/with
eg: Despite her illness, Helen perseveres in her attempt to finish college.
eg: If you persevere to achieve your dream, one day your dream will come true.

kayaking n. 皮划艇運動

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at-risk (通常形容人) 有受虐待危險的/有傳染疾病危險的
=> describe people need special care
eg: at-risk children 可能遭受虐待的兒童

risky adj. 危險的/有風險的(形容某件事或某個活動)
=> talk about any situations or things that involve danger

at risk of something 冒著某一種危險(用在人身上)
eg: John is at risk of losing his home.
eg: Students are at risk of loosing their English if they do not practice enough.