The Day I Didn’t Become a Thru-hiker

Today is a joyous occasion. It marks the official death of my dream. I started hiking the Appalachian Trail exactly one year ago. In order to be officially classified as a "thru-hiker,” I’d have to be finishing my hike today. But alas, I’m preparing to be cut open again on Monday for my second—and hopefully...

.7mph: 1 Month Surgeversary Update

Tears prick at my eyes. My chest tightens as my feet touch the treadmill belt in an uneven rhythm. I lurch forward to keep my balance. I look at the screen and watch my feet rise and fall. 1 mph is too fast. I move the speed down to .7mph (2 mph slower than what...

Trading my Hiking Poles for Crutches (Again)

“I’m having surgery! I’m just so excited. I can’t even believe it. Not just one, but two! What an answer to prayer. Isn’t that great?” I exclaim with a childish grin. “I’ve never seen anyone excited about surgery before,” Shannon, the physical therapy assistant, says with just a hint of surprise. She’s known me for...

What in the Wilderness

"I wanna wish you a merry Christmas. I wanna wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my he-art! Ahhh snake!!" I belted at the top of my lungs. I then proceeded to sing about snakes and mice for a good twenty minutes. The only way to distract myself from the misery of hiking...