1999 - Part III (Kellisa's First 18 Years)

We missed a lot during Kellisa's time in the NICU, but Lisa missed one of the moments that moms cherish and remember forever, getting discharged with their newborn. It wasn't the same, but a nurse wheeled Lisa out of the hospital with Kellisa on her lap. Even with oxygen, monitors, and wires everywhere, it was a beautiful moment.

 

The one normal thing we did was order a large wooden stork to be placed on our front lawn for Kellisa’s arrival. It was huge with a large red heart painted with Kellisa’s name and date of birth. When we arrived home, we took celebratory pictures of Kellisa with the stork in front of our house. After the pictures, Lisa carried Kellisa through our front door for the first time. Kellisa was home.

 

Julington-Durbin Preserve

 St. Johns River Management District

Jacksonville, FL
February 2014

On a nice Saturday afternoon we headed to one of our "home" hikes- (Julington-Durbin Preserve). It would be our longest hike of the year (3.1 miles). I would learn two valuable lessons on this hike. First, I always kind of assumed that Kellisa's hiking days would be over when the day comes that I can't push her anymore. However, Egypt insisted that she push Kellisa for "a little while". I was impressed as Egypt pushed Kellisa for at least one mile. Kellisa couldn't stop giggling while Egypt was doing the pushing. Second, I learned that Egypt's current level of endurance ends at 2.1 miles. Egypt stopped in the middle of the trail and looked back with a defeated face and pleaded, "call the firetruck mens to come and rescue me". I explained that my cell phone wouldn't work in the forest and that she would have to hike out herself. Her next idea was to ride on my shoulders. I told Egypt that those days were long over. After a little more discussion, Egypt sucked it up and hiked out under her own power. I was very proud of her effort.

TRAILS W/KELLISA

HOME

Kellisa's First Camping Trip

 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Florida
November 2003

Vampire Bat Face Kellisa

 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

October 2007

15 years ago - While all the little girls were getting butterflies, mermaids, and glittery princesses painted on their faces, Kellisa wanted a vampire bat with blood dripping from one of her fangs. 

Spanish Pond

 

A True Friend...Florida Trails

Fort Caroline National Memorial

Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve

Theodore Roosevelt Area

Spanish Pond Trail +

June 2019

Kellisa's Early Hiking Path (2000 - 2007)

Illinois Winters

Kellisa's Path to visiting and hiking in all 50 United States started slow, mostly because of her unstable medical condition. 

Kellisa drove through most of her early states to visit family in Illinois and Texas. Kellisa had her first dozen states visited before we started hiking in 2002. We didn't really start traveling with the intention to hike until 2006 when Kellisa was 7-years-old. 

Below are some of the highlights from the early years along Kellisa's Path.

Sisters, Crocodiles, and Alligators

Biscayne National Park

& 

Everglades National Park

Florida

March 2015

Central Florida Trails and Wildlife

Blue Spring State Park

&

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

January 2015

Florida Atlantic Trails

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

&

Daggerwing Nature Center

Florida

August 2014

Florida Trails

Julington-Durbin Preserve

Florida

February 2014

Florida

Faver-Dykes State Park

Florida

July 2011

Kellisa and Laurel states hiked together: 5/50.