Guest Post: My Walking Journey

For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed walking. From ten mile hikes with the Boy Scouts to prayer walking with my church group, to traversing solo across streets, trails, and parks, walking has always been special to me. So it was with utter dismay that during my grueling move to Scranton in March, 2020 I suddenly lost my ability to walk very much, especially in my hilly South Side neighborhood. In fact, it got the point where I could not even walk from one end of my house to the other without struggling for breaths and coughing uncontrollably.

Even worse, tragedy struck. My father collapsed suddenly and passed away of a heart attack while unpacking supplies in the master bedroom. Walking was the last thing on my mind now as I pondered how my life would go on without him. To make matters worse, my mother tested positive for COVID-19 and I needed to quarantine in a house that I barely knew yet.

My coughing got progressively worse, and my breathing even more difficult. I had to sit on my living room couch for long periods of time to rest. While my mother was in the hospital, a case worker called me to bring me up to date on her condition. The case worker heard my heavy breathing and urged me to go to the emergency room. What an important and life-saving call that was! After undergoing 20 hours of tests the pulmonologist told me I had suffered a pulmonary embolism, resulting in significant blood clots in my lungs. I was put on medication, connected to a high flow oxygen device, and stayed in the hospital for two weeks until my oxygen intake reached a satisfactory level.

Each day, I watched from my hospital bed as people would take their leisurely springtime strolls around Nay Aug Park. I began to feel such a sense of determination to hike again.  To every doctor and nurse that came into the room, I pointed down towards the park and with eagerness in my voice stated; “See those people walking? I am going to be walking down there again too!” I just knew, helpless as I felt at that moment, that someday I would be able do it.

That May, I was home and beginning to take short walks around the Connell Park ballfield with the help of a portable oxygen unit. It was a slow process, but gradually I began to take walks that were a little longer. By June I started to wean myself off the oxygen, and decided to take a trip to McDade Park. One trail off the park’s main road consists of a series of wooden steps leading up to the tennis courts. I decided they were my ultimate test: I was going to make it all the way up to the top of that hill. My confidence grew with each step as I approached the last one. I had made it to the top in triumph! Almost as if it was a victory prize, I experienced the most amazing view of Scranton, the valley below, East Mountains, and even my neighborhood from the top of that pathway.  I was walking comfortably again! I began to expand my walking to include the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, and finally, Nay Aug Park. Yes, I DID walk down there again just as I told those doctors and nurses months earlier!

Since then I have built up my strength even more, taking on more challenging hikes in parks and trails around the region and across the state. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t take a walk, even if it is just around the neighborhood.

I happened to be out on one of those "neighborhood jaunts" one Saturday morning when, passing Connell Park, I saw a Walk With a Doc banner, and decided to find out more about it. Three years of living near the park and I never knew about its winding woodland trails. In addition, the guest speakers and their pre-walk presentations of the Connell Park Walking Club have made me aware of many new ways to get even more out of my hiking experience, including stretching, exercise, mindfulness, and the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.

These Saturday morning walks have also blazed another trail for me; one filled with new friendships. I discovered that one of the group’s leaders, Corey, shared my passions for music,  record collecting, and even Wawa! Corey, along with many other new found friends, have rallied around me to create a delightful new ‘circle of friends’ in my life.

When I look back at the end of the day on the ‘high points’ of what I did that day, the one thing I seemingly always remember are the hikes and how much joy they brought me. With the Connell Park Walking Club there are no shortages of high points to look back on. As a result of this relationship, I have performed extensive volunteer work maintaining the trails, and supporting Valley In Motion events, like The Office 5K. I feel this is one way in which I can give back to the community and share my love of hiking with others.

I urge you to join us for a walk at Connell Park (800 Gibbons Street in Scranton) on Saturdays at 10am.  We’ll be there, rain or shine. Let a new chapter begin for you the way it has for me!