May 2018 - While traveling through Europe I began to have an annoying dry cough, which eventually led to a heavy cough and then throwing up blood and my throat swelling nearly entirely shut. Doctors in Belgrade and Prague stitched me up and indicated that I had a blood condition of some sorts, which I blew off and continued traveling. I spent 5 weeks in South Africa with on and off unexplained conditions… which I blew off and enjoyed the exploration.

July 2018 - Returning to Chicago from South Africa, I felt tired and worn down. Expectedly so after what levels of travel and exploration I’d just done, all while maintaining the work with my advisory firm. Urgent care doctors in Chicago told me that I had inflammation in my system and to take a regiment of a steroid called prednisone, to calm it down. 

August 2018 - On August 12, I woke up to extreme pain and swelling in my left leg. 911 respondents rushed me to the ER and proclaimed I had a blood clot. The doctors suggested it was likely acute, and a result of my recent extensive and extended air travel. I was assured this could be taken care of with some highly effective blood thinners and not to worry.

October 2018 - The blood clot has subsided but it was obvious something else is terribly wrong. I had been experiencing joint pain, extreme fatigue, and swelling in my lips, eyelids, places I didn’t know could swell. Again, doctors said that I was experiencing inflammation in my body and my joint pain in my wrists was carpal tunnel. After a regiment of prednisone I went to Hawaii to visit baby brother for a month. 

November 2018 - Hawaii is paradise when you can enjoy the islands. When you’re too weak and in pain to walk to the bathroom...it is torture. After a full week of evaluations in NC, where I spent Thanksgiving with my Family… I was officially diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis and Chronic Kidney Disease, with approximately 51% functionality.

December 2018 - I was extremely sad not to realize my much needed exploration thought Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador but happy that I listened to my doctors when they said it would worse before it got better. Not entirely taking no for an answer I decided to rent a place in Miami for the winter, getting as close to South America as I could while being in driving distance to Duke Medical Center. I will be the first to say that doctors aren’t always right, but this time.. they were. I gained about 40lbs in a matter of three weeks and could barely walk at times. Not even the beaches of Miami could comfort me. So, within a month of arrival on South Beach, I returned back to North Carolina for deeper evaluation and closer monitoring.