hike4hope.net

I have hope and would like to help others who are fighting cancer know what it is like to live with hope instead of constant fear. My name is Josh Davis my fight with cancer has been tough but I have had the better end of the deal. In a way I almost feel guilty, as if I get the easy way out. That feeling has lead me to try and help others whose fight is so much harder than my own. I got sick the beginning of September 2006. I had bad abdominal cramps and pains. I continued to work as a chef in Myrtle Beach SC, where I had recently moved. I had not been there long and had not had the chance to establish myself or get any type of healthcare. I went to the emergency room twice with no help and little advice. I borrowed money to help purchase an insurance policy so I could be taken seriously. By this point the hospital visits and the referral to the gastrointerologist had sapped almost all of my income and a chunk of my savings to no positive result. I was treated for acid reflux gird and scheduled for a colonoscapy to check for Crones disease. During the course of the month it took for all of this to happen it became increasingly difficult to eat without pain. I lost over forty pounds in about thirty days. My body was sore I was so weak I had began to metabolize my own muscles for energy. When I went to the ER the third time ( with the insurance ) they took an x-ray for the first time and saw that my colon was inflamed. So they moved the colonoscapy up and I began preparing for it. When I took the bowel prep for the procedure it had the reverse effect as I began to vomit off an on for approximately seventeen hours. My intestinal track was completely blocked at this point by an intestinal tumor which had began to perforate the walls of my intestines. Not knowing this I went to the doctors office for the colonoscapy. They said they could not do the procedure if I had not passed any fluids and the doctor suggested we try a new bowel prep, assuming I was allergic , hence the vomiting. I refused and demanded he admit me to the ER next door, which he agreed to indifferently. Later that day after x-rays and blood work he came back and told me I had made a good decision and that I was blocked. They then put me on fluids and antibiotics to calm down the blockage which they assumed was some sort of inflammation or infection. For three days the "inflammation" did not get any better so expecting fully to find Crones disease they performed exploratory surgery. I awoke from surgery thinking every thing was over. I had a 22 staples and a six inch scar on my stomach. Everyone hid the fact they had removed cancer from my body for days even my parents (under the advice of the surgeon) until the doctor who had admitted me let the news slip. At first I was furious but that passed quickly as I realized gravity of the news. I had stage three colon cancer. They had removed fifteen inches of my bowels along with my appendix and a 3.2cm tumor which had grown aggressively over the past year causing my discomfort and eventually threatening my life. I only would have had a couple of weeks before my intestinal wall was perforated and I went septic, or I literally starved to death. Three weeks later I was passing stool and walking although both took effort. Since then, I have completed twelve chemo sessions. I got leucovorin, 5fu, and oaxiliplatin sp? over the course of forty-eight hours every other week. I am an avid outdoors person long distance hiking being my passion. In the middle of nowhere with everything I need on my back is when I feel free. My church is nature that is where I naturally feel the closet to God. I am still able to pursue those endeavors after chemo. I consider myself lucky although my fight has been tough, it has also been short and tolerable so far. I have decide to thru-hike the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine. I had started out to finish the trail in 1999 but failed to complete the entire hike for a series of personal reasons which I later came to regret. I contacted Lance Armstrong Foundation to get my hike sponsored as my way of giving to those who have ha a harder fight than mine and possibly inspire them to hope for success in their fight as I have had in mine so far. When I was prompted to name this event I called it the hike4hope hike.I am looking to write a book, maintain the hike website, accomplish the hike, launch an event to promote not for profit cancer causes and to network and give to these causes. I am currently networking with several established charities that will be happy to promote any events we can pull off and receive the monetary benifit after costs and a few modest salaries are reached. The hike is 2,160 miles thru fourteen states, Maine to Georgia via the blue ridge and Appalachian mountains. I carry a pack with approx 40 lbs of gear, my dog will also carry her own pack and gear. We resupply food about once a week from mail drops along in the small mountain towns along the trail. I have prepared my menu before departure and already have funding for gear and several offers to stop and resupply along the way. First, I had to get healthy and train by hiking Crowders Mt. in Gastonia for weight training. The Chemo was intense. I got about 4 to 7 good days out of every 2 weeks, but I am alive and keeping busy to stay positive and focused.Life gave me lemons I'm going to make lemonade, and will share it freely with anyone who will help. Life has to mean something to us. Thank you for your generosity, kindness and willingness to get involved. Josh Davis.I left June 14th 2008 This sight will be maintain by a close friend who will have contact with me and will also be coming to visit a few times. Please don't hesitate to ask questions or share your stories. And please visit hike4hope.net Myspace Backgrounds