Lucknow girl overcomes heart surgeries to touch Himalayan heights | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Proving that determination can move mountains, Somya Rakshit (30) from Lucknow, who suffers from a congenital heart disease and underwent two open-heart surgeries, achieved what few dare to attempt — climbing Ama Dablam (6,812 metres), one of Nepal’s most technical Himalayan peaks.Ama Dablam, often called the ‘Matterhorn of the Himalayas’, is admired for its absolute beauty but feared for its steep ridges, ice walls and rapidly changing weather. Even seasoned climbers consider it one of the most technically demanding climbs in the world. For Somya, whose heart condition restricts oxygen flow in the body, it was a challenge against nature and physiology alike.This is because Somya was born with Blue Baby Syndrome, a congenital heart defect that reduces oxygen levels in the blood and gives the skin a bluish shade. Such people are advised to avoid rigorous physical activity. Somya, who belongs to Lucknow, was raised in an army family. She spent her childhood and studies moving across cities—Pune, Delhi and Jhansi. After completing her engineering degree from BBD University, Lucknow, in 2017, Somya took up a job with Ola in Bengaluru.“This climb was not only about reaching a peak; it was about proving that no condition can define your limits,” said Somya, who successfully climbed Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal in just 16 days, ahead of the planned 27 days. The team included eight members with Sherpas; four had to withdraw due to health issues, while four, including Somya, reached the summit. “Every step tested our endurance, but reaching the top made it worth it,” said Somya, who underwent two open-heart surgeries at a young age—one in Delhi and another at Pune’s Military Hospital at the age of ten when her mitral valve began to leak. “Many doctors refused to operate; they suggested a heart transplant. But my mother fought for that surgery — and it saved my life,” recalled Somya. Those surgeries came with a lifelong caution: avoid strenuous activity.The turning point came in Feb 2020, when she decided to take a short trek to Sandakphu Phalut in West Bengal, the only trek in India from where one can see Mt. Everest. “From there, I saw Mount Everest for the first time. I didn’t even know it was visible from India. That view changed everything. I knew I wanted to climb,” she said.Determined to pursue mountaineering, she began preparing for mountain treks and training herself through long walks, yoga and light workouts. Later, she enrolled in formal courses at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Darjeeling), earning top grades in both basic and advanced courses. “Yoga helped me the most; it’s not about flexibility — it’s about control. You learn to manage your breath, your mind, and your fear,” she said.The journey into high-altitude mountaineering, which began with a simple trek, soon turned into a series of challenging expeditions. After her first trek to Sandakphu-Phalut in 2020, Somya enrolled in the Basic Mountaineering Course in 2021. The following year, she trekked to the Everest Base Camp, which strengthened her resolve to pursue the sport seriously. In 2023, she completed the Advanced Mountaineering Course. In 2024, she was selected by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for an all-women expedition and climbathon to the Bara Shigri Glacier in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti region. This experience, along with years of preparation that included climbing several 20,000-ft peaks in Ladakh and other Himalayan treks, paved the way for her most ambitious climb yet, Ama Dablam in Nepal. On October 19 she successfully summited Ama Dablam, standing tall at 22,349 feet and proving that determination can defy even the toughest odds. “We climbed the mountains; many trekkers feel mountain sickness, but having such a disease, I never feel such difficulties. I’ve never really experienced mountain sickness,” she highlighted. “My mother, Sunita Gupta, who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, still packs emergency medicines before every climb; my father, Anjan Kumar Rakshit, a retired Air Force officer, drops me off before expeditions and waits for my call when I return,” Somya says with a smile.With Ama Dablam behind her, Somya has now become the third Indian woman to scale this formidable peak. She said her next goals are clear—Kanchenjunga and eventually Everest. “Most people can’t name five real things about themselves; every time I go to the mountains, I learn something new about who I am. Overthinking doesn’t help — willpower does,” she said.