BEWARE! Graphic Content!

It was Day 150 and I finally posted a video of the condition of my legs and arms. It had now been a couple weeks since the poison oak had initially appeared upon the back of my leg. No matter how much sand and Mississippi river water I scrubbed over my gear, slipping in and out each day, still caused the slow spread. Trying to cool the heat rash that too caused my skin to tingle with hourly dips in the murky water, left little room for the open wounds now oozing with infection to heal in anyway. The night before sharing, I was up hours on the phone with a friend back home in BC. Tears rolled down my cheeks continuously at the thought of letting down sponsors and all who were following, but I confessed to him I felt done. My body and my mind were drained, both riddled with wounds that would not heal within the intense environment I was pushing myself through. Little did those who were writing incredible messages of suggestions to help with my skin and  “sorry to see you in pain”, “I’ve been there, not fun”, It was truly my mind that caused me to pull off the river. A comment came in from a Doctor in another part of the country who had been following along. She was horrified at my condition and insisted if I did not seek treatment right away things were going to get much worse for me! She knew of the fact I was alone, that getting to a hospital was not likely an option and she assured me she would do whatever she could to help. Once again my emotions of letting down a devoted follower, as well as tears of joy at the compassion towards me was overwhelming. The Doctor called the closest pharmacy to where I was likely to be she ordered and paid for the highest does of treatment possible and a stranger then took me out of his way to pick up the order. The medicine may have been what finally cleared my skin, it was those comments, those actions of compassion and support from so many strangers throughout my expedition that healed my heart and mind, not just now, but for the entirety of my life’s journey.