This is me new to the hike

My introduction to me

Hello fellow hikers! This is my first attempt at hiking and I have chosen the Appalachian Trail very seriously and with a lot of thought! Not only is it a beautiful part of our country, but for me it will be the most challenging event I have ever experienced in my entire life!

A hike is a challenge for everyone and I have seen and read about so many different people, on so many different levels! Each experience shared has inspired me and deeply touched me in a way I could never accurately explain.

SOME OF MY CHALLENGES

I’ve been through some intense and challenging events! However, not in the way you might think! A while ago I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. When I found out, I had a more positive attitude than my doctors thought was normal! I told my new gastro, ‘Okay, let’s fix it!’ Well, it took me two years to learn what Crohn’s disease was.

After many hospitalizations and many medicine changes, I felt like I recovered. It was achieved, but it did not disappear. I had a flare up, they treated it with IV steroids and the symptoms subsided. Steroids are horrible, the side effects are a nightmare! I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t need to worry about side effects anymore!

I had a Crohn’s attack, it hit me hard, fast and very painful! They gave me horrible intravenous steroids and almost instantly I had an effect called ‘steroid induced psychosis’! Mentally, I broke down violently and had no memory of my terrifying and horrible behavior. Never more steroids.

Many times I received IV fluids and many IV antibiotics and sometimes blood transfusions! Those were exhausting times! I got through each flare-up with few complaints and no whining. Complaining doesn’t solve anything.

Different challenges

Later I added systemic lupus and mixed connective tissue disease to my health problems. Along with Crohn’s disease, these are autoimmune diseases. I can’t make them go away. But I can still live life! I kept my head up and my eyes forward and didn’t complain or seek sympathy!

These autoimmune problems have caused problems in a couple of joints. My left knee over the last few years started to fall apart! So much so that in 9 days I will have knee replacement surgery!

I’ve heard it takes months and months to recover from a knee replacement. Everyone is different and I believe it. I’ve had surgery many times and all I can do is keep my head up and watch where I’m going, not where I’ve been.

I’m planning to start my memorial walking weekend. It’ll be here before I know it. I’ll be ready. I have made a decision. I don’t just want to do it. I have to at least try. Time keeps passing so fast and I can’t control it!

And if…

I can’t wait for all the what ifs. With the autoimmune issues I have and a new knee, I’m going to follow my plan and work hard. I will graciously thank people for their thoughts and advice. I can’t worry about what if that would never happen. What if you listened to all the “what ifs” and missed all the great opportunities that could be overlooked?

On January 30th I will wake up, start a new day, with my new knee and I will be in a lot of pain. I’ll work on it. Every day will be better than the day before. Some of those days, my eyes will get really sweaty… I’ll wipe the sweat off and keep my head up and eyes forward. I’ll remind myself that I survived having my large intestine removed and had a bag of shit. Having recovered enough, he took off the shit bag and recovered from all of that. I recovered from having part of my stomach removed. When things seem really difficult, I will remind myself to keep my head up, my eyes forward, and keep going. I will remind myself many times when necessary… I GOT THIS!!!

I can’t wait to meet you on the road! Have a great time and take care!!! With love from Scope DeGeorge.

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