thetravelingwithers.com

Let me tell you, yesterday was one for the books! It started with a simple plan: leave Baton Rouge, drive to New Orleans, park at a friend’s house, hop on a plane, and go. Easy, right? Well…not quite.

We made it to New Orleans without any hiccups. As we pulled into our friend’s driveway, the realization hit like a ton of bricks. My wallet, and ID, of course, was still sitting snug at home in Baton Rouge. Cue the facepalm moment of the day. If you’re looking for a laugh, read our blog from before the trip. Perhaps you’ll find a moment of irony in our travel tips! The first thing on the list of things to remember is your identification! Let my lesson avoid you some trouble in the future!

So, with no other options, back to Baton Rouge we went. We had to reschedule for a later flight. Then, I grabbed my wallet (along with my sanity). We headed back to New Orleans for round two. This time, we nailed the parking, called the Uber, and successfully made it to the airport. Small wins, right?

From there, it was planes, trains—just kidding, no trains—but three flights and four airports: MSY to CLT, then CLT to ORD, and finally, ORD to RST, landing around 10pm. Then the Rochester Shuttle to our hotel. Twelve solid hours of travel, but you know what? We made it! So grateful for a mostly uneventful travel day (if you forget about the whole wallet situation).

While we’re thrilled to be here, we’re definitely missing our crew back home—the non-furry and furry kiddos alike. But this journey has a purpose. And speaking of good news, Mayo Clinic came through and filed that GAP exception with our insurance. (Woohoo!) Now it’s time to make sure our insurance approves it. Fingers crossed. 🙏

One question I love to ask my coaching clients is, “When does a mountain look the biggest?” Most people will say, “It looks biggest at the bottom.” Then, I ask a follow up question, “Are you at the bottom of the mountain?” Usually, clients have a wonderful moment of recognizing growth and accomplishment in the journey. Here’s the thing, in terms of this figurative mountain: Ross and I are not at the bottom anymore. We have climbed so far, and despite the twists and turns, peaks and valleys (and missing wallets), we’re still making progress. The momentum is strong and focused. The support we have received from our family, friends, and this community keeps pushing us ahead. We can’t do it alone—and we don’t have to. Thank you for all your support! It means the world to us. Seriously!

That’s why we’re sharing our story. If you or someone you know is facing a similar health battle, we hope this journey encourages you to keep climbing. As one of our dear friends told me, “Remember Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.” God has brought us to this place. He has directed our steps and He already knows how this works out. All we have to do is trust the plan and let things unfold as they will. I hope that we continue finding light enough to take the next step. Advocacy isn’t easy. However, it’s worth every step. If it brings you closer to the care you need, it’s worth it. If it gives you the courage to keep fighting, it’s worth it.

Please share our story. We don’t often know who in our lives is fighting a difficult battle. By posting our website and blogs on social media, we can reach more people. They may need a piece of our story for their own. And, if you find it in your finances, you can also support us in a couple of ways:

• GoFundMe
• Venmo: @Megann-Wither
• CashApp: $MegWither

Every bit helps as we navigate this journey to get Ross the care he needs. Thanks for checking in to make sure we keep climbing.

Faith, love, and light, folks! Love ya!