INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman is taking on an inspiring journey of strength, living her life to the fullest, even through a cancer diagnosis.
Julia Shildmyer loves open water swimming.
"You see tons of swimmers here on weekends, always with the orange buoys," said Shildmyer as she stood on her patio looking at a huge lake.
That love has taken her on quite the adventure around the world.
"I've done Statue of Liberty to New Jersey. I've done Alcatraz. Just came back from doing a swim in Santorini where I jumped off a volcano and swam back to the island," Shildmyer said.
When she turned 55, she decided every year, she would do a birthday challenge.
Her swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco was her first.
One year, she swam with sharks uncaged.
"Kilimanjaro was kind of a goofy suggestion from my boss. 'Oh, for your birthday, I bet you you're climbing Kilimanjaro.' 'Hmmm. I wonder what that would take?'" Shildmyer said.
She was already in the best shape of her life, having competed in races and triathlons.
But there was something she didn't expect.
"It was a couple days before Christmas 2022, and it was a surprise," Shildmyer said.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 59.
"I had climbed Kilimanjaro while I had cancer, I just didn't know it at the time," Shildmyer said.
For seven days, Shildmyer climbed the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
"So the summit, you're at 50% oxygen. It's over 19,000 feet," Shildmyer said.
When she returned, she underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
"Last year was hard," Shildmyer said. "It's overwhelming. There's a lot to learn. A lot to think about when you're going through it. Luckily, I had a good support system."
Last summer, three months after finishing chemo and seven weeks post-surgery, she transformed vulnerability into strength.
Shildmyer decided to take on a bold challenge, defying gravity and fear.
"I was still a little sore from the surgery, but it was something I really wanted to do to prove to myself that cancer isn't going to take these challenges away from me — these adventures," Shildmyer said.
That next challenge involved wing walking on a biplane!
"When you get up there and you're going that fast and you're climbing out of a cockpit, I didn't know until I did the next move if I was going to do the next move. That was by far the scariest thing I've ever done, and I will never do it again," Shildmyer said.
13News asked is there anything she wouldn't do.
"I haven't thought of it yet," Shildmyer laughed. "I'm sure there is something."
Shildmyer is determined to continue celebrating life beyond cancer and encourages others going through treatment that there is hope.
"It's not fun. You're sick, but you will get through it, and there is another side, and you will get back to feeling like yourself and being able to do those things again that you really enjoy doing," Shildmyer said.
Her journey shows that in the face of adversity, hope and determination can light the path of healing.
"Being able to still do challenges and adventures during my healing, again, has really helped me feel that cancer doesn't have the last laugh," Shildmyer said.
Shildmyer has already started researching birthday challenges for next year for her 62nd birthday, which includes Silfra Fissure in Iceland.
"It's supposed to be the most beautiful clear water in the world because it's all from glaciers. That's what I'm thinking about, but something else might pop up," Sildmyer said.
Shildmyer said she is cancer-free, but she still has to undergo some treatment and will remain on medication for five to seven years.