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.^WPiMt. Everest survivor sends clearmessage during 75th celebrationBeck Weathersalmost lost his life duringan expedition to thetop of Mt. Everest twoyears ago.But he almost lostsomething more importantto him."When I got backhome my wife told me,she said 'Beck, you'vegotten yourself into areal mess, and I can'tleave you like this. I'llsee you through yoursurgeries, but then I'mgone.' " Weathers said."I really just about blewit. And I would haveunderstood had she left."As it turned out,Weathers, a Dallaspathologist, and his wife,A 4... jr / js'"-•^m"*'•§aB HHS^^^^^f•m I"Wif^£—*>-^*~Jlljfesp^^^^ !^SSBIr* **mt>m: ^ ^£n> v .-^Dr. Beck Weathers signs an autograph during a reception prior to his speech.Peach, are still together. That, along with the doctor's survival atop Mt. Everest after twice being left fordead, is a miracle.Weathers delivered a moving speech Feb. 23 during Cowley's 75th anniversary celebration. The eventwas attended by more than 600 people in the Robert A. Brown Theatre.Weathers recalled the events leading up to May 10,Everest around 27,000 feet. It was an incredible story.1996, the day a violent winter storm pounded Mt."I am a walking dead man," he told the audience, describing himself throughout the ordeal. "But thefact that I would never say I love you to my wife, or hold my children again, was simply not acceptable."Ever since 1849, when Everest was identified as the world's tallest peak, more than 700 people havereached the 29,028-foot summit, and 154 have died trying.On May 10, 1996, a sudden blizzard swept over Mt. Everest as more than 30 climbers were descendingfrom the summit, preventing many from finding their way to safety. It was the worst one-day loss oflife in Everest history. Eight people died, including three professional guides. One of the guides was RobHall, the leader of Weathers' group.Weathers came within an eyelash of being victim No. 9. In fact, he was among the confirmed dead onMay 10. The 49-year-old Dallas pathologist, who had taken up mountaineering as a hobby, lay unconsciousthroughout the night, under the snow, in a hypothermic coma, 300 yards from his camp. A thicklayer of ice covered his face.Twice he had been found by rescuers, and twice he had been left for dead.The key, Weathers told the audience, was simple: "I opened my eyes."Thoughts of his family, and the knowledge that he would never see them again unless he saved himself,gave him the will to stand. He struggled his way back to camp."My motivation was pretty clear to me," Weathers said in an interview with ABC News. "I could seemy family, and I wasn't about to give up."Weathers' body bears permanent scars of his ordeal. He lost his nose, his right hand, and the fingers ofhis left hand to frostbite. But he never lost his hope.j