Distant Lands and Far-Off Places

Readers of my previous blog post, An Amazing Adventure, know that I recently traveled abroad to Spain.  Prior to my injury I aspired to see as much of the world as possible, with dreams of European castles, Egyptian pyramids, medieval fortresses, breathtaking landscapes, as well as the world's natural and man-made wonders.  I know this list is ambitious, but why limit one's dreams as it only narrows the scope of what one might turn into reality?

Before I could even begin to call myself a world traveler, my world turned upside down.  I began to look at many dreams and goals differently.  Suddenly outliving the five-year life expectancy, I had been callously given, seemed more important than traveling the world.  Managing to slowly work my way toward an undergraduate degree felt more manageable than going to medical school.  I will admit that while adjusting to an exponentially more exhausting day-to-day existence, the mere notion of flight travel seemed utterly and completely insurmountable.  In fact, I resigned myself to never traveling any farther than I could reasonably get in my adaptive minivan.

Perhaps my description sounds nothing like the Loa you have come to know.  Sometimes in order to overcome obstacles that seem daunting, we must be forced to face even more unfathomable alternatives.  It took my grandfather dying of cancer to push me to consider getting on an airplane.  While the rest of my family was taking turns flying out to see him, as he was no longer strong enough to visit us, I stayed behind at home mourning the loss of the opportunity to say goodbye face-to-face.  I do not know who was first brave enough to propose that I could attempt to fly out there, but I do know that very thoughtful planning with my mom and sister Soley made the concept of what I previously believed to be much too complicated, turn into something quite manageable.  We planned so thoroughly, that I could not be overwhelmed, and instead could focus on what truly mattered—getting to see my grandfather.

In life you are truly only limited by what you believe is possible.

The trip went very smoothly, which opened me up to exploring other travel opportunities.  The success is a direct consequence of my immediate family and travel companions' ingenuity and determination, coupled with how graciously my extended family hosted us and my mobile medical suite.  Over the course of my subsequent travels we streamlined my packing needs, making the travel process increasingly more efficient.  While this first trip opened up a world of possibilities, when initially confronted with the notion of traveling as far as Europe, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the prospect.  Concerns over long flights which could lead to skin breakdown issues, and a host of other tedious medical factors, once again brought out my defeatist side.  My wonderful Soley decided that this simply was unacceptable, and asked her husband if they could give me a trip for my upcoming milestone birthday.  Having asked me multiple times where I wanted to go now that the pandemic had passed and was no longer restricting my travel opportunities, Wick was completely on board.  He did, however, have a few stipulations.  Wick felt it was important to bring along another nurse, so as not to completely deplete Soley's energy stores with being exclusively responsible for all of my care and medical needs.  He also thought it would be helpful if our cousin from Iceland, who has traveled with me previously, could join us for some extra muscle power.

Thus, the trip began to take form.  Soley and Wick had already secured the aforementioned companions and researched some of the more accessible locations in Europe which could be reached with flights that included seats that turn into beds, to mitigate the fear and risk of acquiring a pressure sore before the trip even got past the travel portion.  I must also mention that Soley and Wick recruited my parents to watch their children, leaving them free to take me on the trip, for without my parents' help, the trip would not have been even remotely possible.   

Being a much more ambitious trip than those we have previously taken, visiting the continent required even more attention to detail while preparing and planning.  Soley and I started creating lists of all of the medical equipment in preparation for any and all care needs I might encounter.  We solicited the help of our mother and other members of my nursing staff, as each contributed different ideas and perspectives, to ensure that all possibilities were given consideration.  Knowing that being organized would make everything proceed more efficiently, Soley and I also set about creating an itinerary, as well as lining up accommodations.  Early on in the process we stumbled upon an incredibly valuable resource in a company called Accessible Spain Travel, and its managing director, Daniel.  He helped us arrange accommodations, found appropriate transportation, and scheduled accessible tours with transport.  Daniel offered some incredible recommendations we would have missed out on without his knowledge; he assisted us in coordinating a very efficient and seamless itinerary.  Having everything planned ahead of time helped eliminate the stress that accompanies a less premeditated travel scenario, which allowed the trip to come together in what my brother-in-law deemed the perfect recipe for success: the right mix of people, the right mix of planning, and of course the right mix of adventure!

The whole crew with the Alhambra, a personal bucket list destination, in the background!

In life you are truly only limited by what you believe is possible.  It is easy to narrow the vision of what seems possible when you are in a situation similar to mine, but ultimately planning and creativity can make any dream come into focus.  That is not to say that the realization of the dream might look a little different from its original conception, but nothing is ever as anyone imagines it will be, regardless of whether they are in an unconventionally complicated situation or not.  Those who cling too tightly to what they expect and want life to be will find themselves perpetually disappointed.  Those who are willing to reimagine the definition of perfect when things do not go according to plan are able to have an incredibly joyful life, even if it is marked by a few tragedies while being rerouted by unexpected obstacles and bends in the road. 

Thank you to everyone who made my Spain trip a reality.  It took more than just those of you who joined me, and I appreciate the support everyone offered along the way in allowing me to live the best life possible!