By Roisin Cullen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter PIQUE NEWSMAGAZINE
An inspiring Pemberton woman has opened up about completing the Camino de Santiago in Spain, 30 years after being diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disorder called myasthenia gravis (MG).
Kelly Carson has battled the rare condition for decades but has never let it stand in her way of making the impossible possible.
MG results in weakness of the skeletal muscles and affects the voluntary muscles of the body. Muscles around people害羞草研究所檚 eyes, mouth, throat and limbs are affected. Carson was diagnosed with the debilitating disorder when she was 35 years old. He kids were just teenagers at the time.
害羞草研究所淚 was in a wheelchair. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 walk,害羞草研究所� said Carson. 害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 dress myself. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 talk. It was a real milestone for me to be able to walk 800 km 害羞草研究所� a diagnosis of MG is not the end of the world. I actually went to the end of the world.害羞草研究所�
Kelly was inspired to do the Camino after watching the movie The Way (2010) starring Martin Sheen. 害羞草研究所淪ubconsciously, I started buying things to help me do the Camino,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 decided I would do it when I was 65. Everything rolled into place.害羞草研究所�
Sadly, there is no cure for MG, but Carson has been in remission for a decade. She didn害羞草研究所檛 realize her Camino journey marked the anniversary of her diagnosis until she started walking. Then her subconscious draw to the challenge finally made sense.
She remembered her younger self sitting in St Paul害羞草研究所檚 Hospital in Vancouver coming to terms with the life-changing news during her Camino journey. The President of the MG Association of BC is reminding others with the condition that a diagnosis is not the end of the world. The Camino de Santiago is.
害羞草研究所淚 was in St Paul害羞草研究所檚 smoking in a stairwell and suddenly, my legs kicked out,害羞草研究所� recalls Carson. 害羞草研究所淚 waited until the strength came back so I could get back to my hospital room. There is life after MG. It is incurable but you can go into remission. Nobody ever told me that.害羞草研究所�
Carson害羞草研究所檚 journey started in Vancouver when she trained with the Canadian Pilgrims Association. 害羞草研究所淓very Sunday, they organize a walk,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭wice a year, they walk from Downtown Vancouver to the airport. You get the stamps along the way. My Camino actually started in Vancouver.害羞草研究所�
Her worried daughter wanted to complete the Camino with her but she knew this was something she had to complete by herself. 害羞草研究所淚 enjoyed walking alone and just listening to the birds,害羞草研究所� said Carson. 害羞草研究所淚t was the most amazing thing I have ever done that I will never do again.害羞草研究所�
There were times when Carson wondered why fate had brought her to the famous trail. She worried she had overestimated her ability on the very first day. 害羞草研究所淲hen I looked up, I saw how far uphill it was,害羞草研究所� she said tearfully. 害羞草研究所淚 just thought I can害羞草研究所檛 do this. I told myself I couldn害羞草研究所檛 do that. Everything else was easy after that.害羞草研究所�
Along the way, Carson met people she believes she was destined to meet including a man from England with MG. He was the first person Carson has met who is also in recovery from the condition. 害羞草研究所淲e walked together for two weeks,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e will be friends for life.害羞草研究所�
The Pemberton trailblazer brought her ex-husband害羞草研究所檚 ashes on the journey and spread them at the end of the Camino. She felt she was able to make peace with him on the hike and jokes that he didn害羞草研究所檛 have to do any of the hard work. She has asked her kids to scatter her own ashes at the 害羞草研究所渆nd of the world,害羞草研究所� mostly so her kids have to complete the same trek.
Like many others, Carson found great healing along The Way of Saint James. 害羞草研究所淚 held resentment,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎 lot of that got resolved on the Camino. When you害羞草研究所檙e by yourself walking, you do a lot of thinking.害羞草研究所�
The author害羞草研究所檚 writer害羞草研究所檚 block was also finally cured, and she has settled into several exciting creative projects since coming back to the mountain village. Carson admitted her feet are still sore. The inspiring lady is sticking to her daily walk to One Mile Lake for the time being, and relishing in her achievement.
