If there was anyone who would be up for a challenge like trekking the 2,190-mile long Appalachian Trail, it would be 41-year-old Stacey Kozel. Stacey has always been an active individual. A lover of sports and the outdoors, the Appalachian Trail was the perfect adventure for her.
Living with Lupus
Stacey was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 19. People with lupus experience it differently. For Stacey, it affects her central nervous system and this means a weakening of her muscles. Then, one particular “flare-up” in March 2014 caused Stacey to lose her lower body mobility.
“I walked into a hospital, came out in a wheelchair. When I left the hospital I could only lift my left arm. I can’t really control it. It just flopped around.”
At that time, Stacey was about to graduate from a radiology program. The lupus attack caused her worry as she was afraid of being unable to graduate. However, Stacey powered through: she returned to school with a wheelchair and leg braces, made up missed clinical sessions, completed her examinations, and graduated with honors.
When Stacey made a switch to the Ottobock C-Brace, she noticed that she could walk more comfortably, even in an outdoor environment. Although this new pair of leg braces were expensive, Stacey worked diligently with the insurance company and therapists to get them covered by insurance. After a year of determination, her hard work paid off, and her claim was approved.
A Display of Willpower and Determination
Stacey evidently displays a great deal of resilience, a sentiment echoed by her orthopedist: “To say Stacey is an overachiever is an understatement.”
Three days after she first changed her leg braces, Stacey signed up for a 5K race. Two months later, she decided to take on the Appalachian Trail. While her mother and orthopaedist were initially hesitant, they eventually supported her decision. Stacey has received tremendous encouragement from strangers as well, whom she affectionately terms “trail angels.”
“The best part has been the people out there. You’re never actually alone.”
Although Stacey knew that her journey would take longer than most as she will require more time to recover her energy or to replace the batteries of her leg brace, she remained undaunted. In fact, this gave her more opportunity to be in touch with nature, something she has always appreciated, and to be among new friends.
She has also earned the nickname “Ironwill” among hikers on the trail, fitting for her strength and determination.
As of November 2016, Stacey conquered the trail and is definitely looking forward to her next adventure. Her mother, Mary Kozel, aptly sums up her fighting spirit: “She always looks for…’what can I do with what I have now’? She always finds something. She keeps moving forward.”
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