Announcement: Our Final Journey

I created this web site to first tell the story of a 5,000 mile walk across the county along the American Discovery Trail, with posts from May 2011 – May 2012, and retold that journey  recently from a different perspective.  My wife Cindy and I began our “early retirement” years in this manner, prompted by her being let go from work with early cognitive decline.  Cindy and I met and married as long distance hikers; choosing that as a venue for rebooting our lives and her brain health made sense for us.

At the time we were keeping Cindy’s condition private; our public mission and reason for taking a whole year to hike across the country was to promote the virtues of kindness and community.  “Love Kindness. Build Community. Believe in Humanity.” became the tag line for this blog, along with past and future journeys to come of Humanity Hiker.

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A year after we finished our 5,000 mile hike across the country Cindy received her official diagnosis for early onset Alzheimer’s.  We created a bucket list to live as well as possible despite our tragedy.  We went on to hike major parts of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014, became snowbirds for two winters and went on our first and only cruise. Once Cindy’s mobility became severely constrained I acquired a pedicab to pedal her around town, getting her out in the nature and pastoral community she loves so much. The pedicab also provided me much needed exercise, as our pursuit of living well applies to both caregiver and patient.

We also resolved that our experiences should benefit others.  In addition to posts about the beauty, culture, kindness, joy and adventure of hiking long distance trails, I provide information in regards to the lifestyle factors that enhance brain health.  I also share my perspective as a full time caregiver, including caregiver hacks that could help others that find themselves in my position.

Over the years of this blog several readers observed they were reading an inspirational love story.  Our love story now enters the final chapter, the final journey, as Cindy has been in my extended hospice care here at home, her will to live beating the odds for the lifespan of one afflicted with early onset Alzheimer’s.  We both hope that you find on this blog something that benefits you in your own wellness journey, no matter the adversity faced.

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One Response to Announcement: Our Final Journey

  1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about american discovery trail.

    Regards

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