Keep up to date with my adventure over on my Scar Trek blog!

-----------------------------------------------

cy·borg (ˈsaɪˌbɔːɡ)

noun 

a person whose physiological functioning is dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.

-n (in science fiction) a living being whose powers are enhanced by computer implants or mechanical body parts.

-----------------------------------------------

As most of you will know, in May 2012 I was hit out of the blue by a rare heart infection called endocarditis that, after I was almost successfully killed by a bunch of cowboys at another hospital, eventually resulted me becoming at least 70% mechanical. The infection completely destroyed my mitral valve while the first hospital had me plugged into drips and presumably just played Candy Crush for three weeks, but luckily someone noticed and I was transferred to a proper hospital where they threw me into surgery, popped open my sternum, stopped my heart for a bit and gave it some new parts.

So, to thank the amazing staff at the London Chest Hospital for everything they did (especially my surgeon Alex Shipolini), to help them help other people in a position like I was and also because I want to continue metaphorically slapping endocarditis in its face until my little arms fall right off and roll away down the mountain, I decided during one late night walk up and down the ward, clutching a drip stand, that I needed something to aim for if I ever got out of there alive. And lo, a poster for a sponsored trek to Machu Picchu did materialize right before my very eyes...

Also, because my friends and family were so massively important to my positivity, survival and recovery after all of that, I'm doing this for them too. The incredible surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses were only part of the story of me still being here, I wouldn't have made it through without you lot around me.

So, logistics...

I am doing this trek in September 2016 (at my own expense, £2.5k!). Obviously donations are pretty crucial to this being worthwhile and a success, so any and all support would be absolutely amazing. I'll maybe make a wee flag and claim the mountain for Sedgley, Liverpool, Glasgow and London and put all your names on it. :)

Luv, triff xox