Wild Radical Rest

As Canada's 9th female mountain guide, Cece has never been one to shy away from adversity or challenge.  She is a fighter and used to be known for her boundless energy and enthusiasm.  

The past few years tested her in ways previously unimagined: a shoulder surgery that led to Complex Regional pain and a nefarious beast known as PTSD that stuggled to take over her life.

Using a determination, boundless curiosity and deep belief that she could heal, she made incredible progress.  Cece was able to return to work in the fall of 2019 in Antarctica where she helped a globally significant research project TARSAN studying ice melt at the Thwaites and Dottson Glaciers.

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She flew home from this remarkable trip, in February of 2020, as the pandemic silently spread around the world.  This flight is likely where she was exposed, but it could have been while working as a ski guide or travelling for field work as an Avalanche Forecaster.  She will never know, but clearly, she was ill with what now would be considered a "mild case" of coronavirus.  She kept working as a ski guide, trying to shake off the fatigue, nausea, cough and tight chest.

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On March 1, she woke gasping for breath afraid she was dying.  This marks the shift.  It was likely the now-famous "cytokine storm" ravaging her body. I nitial trips to the doctor were met with what is termed "medical gas-lighting". She was told to "take off her mask", that it was "anxiety" and that "there was no way she had Covid for the simple reason that she had not been to China.

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Her condition would worsen, week by week for months.  It felt like she had been transplanted into a dying 95-year old's body.  She could no longer do simply things - like walking around the block, standing to brush her teeth, talk at a normal pace, climb a flight of stairs or do simple logic.  Her heart rate spiked with the slighted task and her body felt full of lead.  These were the darkest months of her life.

Slowly, in moments of motivation and lucidity, she began to research and experiment, and began to heal.  It is an ongoing journey, but I hope that some of what I have learned may help you in your own journey of self-acceptance, love and a return to vibrance.  

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