2006 started with Kellisa’s 4th surgery in four months. Both
hips were dislocated again, requiring another surgery of cutting bones,
inserting screws, and hardware. It was followed with the same six brutal weeks
of recovery.
After 18 months without a trip or trail, I
was eager to get Kellisa back outside. I wanted to push our limits and see what we could do on trails.
I even bought the largest baby jog stroller I could find so we wouldn’t have to
use her wheelchair anymore.
We took a family vacation to Arizona for spring break. Our itinerary included the red rocks of Sedona, a few national monuments, and the Grand Canyon. We
completed several scenic trails in and around Sedona. The landscape was breathtaking and the rocky ground provided a nice surface for pushing Kellisa. The trails were far from ADA approved, but also far from challenging. Kellisa enjoyed being pushed up and over the rocks on the path.
We gained valuable experience as we hiked one trail in Montezuma Castle, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki National Monuments. Each trail had it's own challenges, from rocks, to snow, to elevation changes. I was hooked and I could tell Kellisa was as well from her frequent requests for "more".
