A Year Later...

To be completely honest, I have been avoiding this post since September. A lot has happened in the last year and to think about documenting it all in a single blog posting has just been overwhelming. But I think tonight is the night it needs to be done, so here goes nothing...

This is a brief run-down of what I have been up to since last May:

BEATING C. DIFF

I finally beat the c-diff in June after a single round of vancomycin. I spent the summer working and training to get back in shape.

LEAVING BREALEY

I quit my job at the group home because I had to leave for school in Ottawa. I was heartbroken. Working there was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I fell in love with the "Brealey Bunch" and made one of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I learned a lot about myself and discovered what I believe to be my purpose in this life-- I am here to advocate on behalf of those the world has pushed aside and labelled "disabled". Everybody needs to take a second look at people living with "disability" and realize how much they have to teach us about love, respect, and ABILITY.
(On a happy note, I still visit Brealey every time I am home!)

EVACUATION FROM ALGONQUIN

I travelled to Algonquin Park in August for a backpacking expedition with some of the coolest kids alive. To my dismay, my hike only lasted three days. On the second day I collapsed on trail with signs that I thought pointed to another recurrence of C. diff. My amazing team decided to camp early that night to allow me to rest up and offered to carry a lot of my supplies the next morning--they wanted me to be there with them as badly as I did. On the third day I lasted until noon, and then I was back down on the ground shivering, with a high fever, and no food in my stomach. Once again my team astounded me with kindness. My friend Tanya performed Raiki to bring my body temperature back to normal, the boys made sure I had plenty of purified water to keep hydrated, and my girls rubbed my back and hugged me while I cried and told them I needed to leave. A float plane was flown in a couple hours later and I was rescued by the MNR. Luckily I was able to rejoin my group at the retreat a few days later armed with a bag of gatorade and energy bars.
(Algonquin is absolutely stunning, and if you haven't been I would highly suggest you add it to your list of "Things To Do". I plan to go back one summer and finish the trail I started!)
Props to: Meagan, Tanya, Lindsay, Divya, Talitha, Sophie, Max, Marc-Andre, Nikki, Taras (Would not have made it so far without you all!) & the Young family (Would not have made it at all without your generosity!)

THE TRUTH

So why did I collapse in Algonquin? Why did I get c. difficile as a healthy young teenager? Why was I in pain and sick most of the time? Why did I spend most of high school battling anxiety and depression? I found the answer in a drop of blood.

I made an appointment with a naturopath as soon as I arrived back in Peterborough from Algonquin. The traditional medical system had seemingly failed me, so my parents were willing to let me give alternative medicine a try. My first appointment lasted an hour and a half (astonishing after experiencing the 15-minute in-and-out appointments at my doctor's office). I had been concerned about the possibility that I might have celiac disease, and my naturopath agreed it would make perfect sense with all the symptoms I described (unlike my doctor she did not have to pull out a medical dictionary to look up what "celiac disease" was). She performed a finger-prick blood test, gave me a bunch of supplements to help rebuild my digestive system and keep me healthy as a vegetarian, and told me to come back in three weeks.

Three weeks later this is what I discovered: I have food allergies--a lot of food allergies. Although it's not celiac disease thank goodness! I am allergic to the following:
- Animal products (this includes all dairy and meat- eggs are a slight exception)
- Red grapes, bananas, melons, oranges, papaya
- Corn, asparagus, chili peppers, carrots, squash, radish
- Baker's Yeast
-Cane sugar
-Preservatives

I consumed most of these things on a daily basis and as a result suffered from gastrointestinal anaphylaxis, which is just a fancy way to say that my organs swelled up, the lining of my digestive tract deteriorated, and my food starting leaking into my blood stream or would just go sailing on through me leaving me with essentially no nutrients. My naturopath refers to it as "leaky gut syndrome".

In Algonquin, on our first night on trail we had eaten macaroni and cheese, with powdered milk and four different kinds of cheese, which explains why I had so much trouble the next day. I likely contracted c. difficile because all of the good bacteria and immune cells in my digestive system were busy fighting food instead of bad bacteria. I took forever to recover from c. difficile because I was told to take my antibiotics with good bacteria supplements and mass amounts of yoghurt, one of my major allergens, which prevented the good bacteria from being able to survive. My confused immune system also explains why I was sick so often with unexplainable illnesses. The pain I experienced after eating was caused by the swelling of my organs and the lack of protective lining. The sudden onset of depression and anxiety along with all this illness was likely due to the fact that my body was unable to absorb nutrients for almost five years, leaving my body few resources to create things like serotonin and dopamine with.

I know what you're thinking, but it actually doesn't suck. Yes, admittedly I miss cheese, but after cutting these foods out of my life I finally feel alive again. And I can still eat things like oranges, carrots, sugar, and baked goods on a fairly regular basis as long as I keep the portions small and make sure I'm not eating "major allergen" foods like animal protein and dairy. Plus, I am forced to be a healthy eater, which helps keep off the feared "freshman fifteen". I wake up with energy, I eat food without pain, I am healthier than ever before, and I am no longer on any medication for depression or anxiety- I AM SO HAPPY!
Props to: My mom & Susan Joyce

A YEAR IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL

I am just completing my first year of post-secondary at the University of Ottawa as an International Development and Globalization student. While I have been less than impressed with the university and my program, and while I am questioning whether or not I even support traditional development work anymore, I love Ottawa. The city is beautiful and I have made some wonderful friends. I have also been able to "peacefully assemble" on Parliament Hill and join some really amazing volunteer initiatives such as Best Buddies. I have heard the first two years of university are usually less than satisfactory, so I am going to grit my teeth and bear it at this point.
Props to: My Loran family, the M-kids, my amazing roommates, AI members, Best Buddies & all my new friends!

WHAT ABOUT GHANA?

So this is the section most of you are probably interested in, and I have some excellent news! I leave for Ghana on May 14th and will return to Canada on August 3. I have my passport, my visa, my vaccinations, and this time I have my health! I re-booked with Cross-Cultural Solutions so I will still be doing an internship in Hohoe (more details coming soon!). A little bonus I have added on is a 10 day extension for a trip to Tamale to visit my sponsored child and check out the Christian Children's Fund projects running in his community.

Stay tuned...