Meadow’s Story

Hello! My name is Meadow! My mom tells me that I have many names too. Meadow Grace. Meadow of the Meadow. Usually that’s when I run and bounce in the tall grass, as I love to do, since the moment I first saw it. Monster Meadow, aka “The Kraken”.

But my friends know me as “Girl Friend”.

I was a lucky puppy to wind up with such loving humans. My Foster mommy used to tell me that I was going to be really lucky one day! She was right.

My mom and dad take me everywhere and love me so much. They call it, spoiled. I don’t know what that is, but I think you all would like it.

I fell madly in love with humans. Even the little ones are a lot of fun!

I was so lucky to have so much fun. I was outside all the time doing what they called hiking. It was just really fun!

When I was only 7 months old we went hiking for days and days. This was one of the most fun times we all had as a family.

I carried my own food and snacks in my back pack and my mom and dad had packs too. We did a hike that was called the 100 mile wilderness. We only did the north half the first time though. Then the next year we did the southern half. I loved it except the second time was not as much fun.

The second time was fun, until I cut my paw going down a really steep mountain called White Cap Mountain. I was limping all night and just wanted to sleep and have my bed again.

Good thing my mom and dad decided, after seeing me like that, that I was going to go see my grandma and grandpa. Just like how much I love going to see my nanna. I love going to see them. They always spoil me. We have so much fun there.

Oh What’s that!

Oh goodness everyone! I see Ms. Meadow has been at it again. She has been chatting away with you all. She can be a nosey little girls some times.
Maybe I should take it from here.

Hello! It’s me, Colleen, Meadow’s mom and the wife of Ben. Let me see if I can finish up what she was trying to tell you all.

Yes, the first half of the 100 mile wilderness was amazing. This was when we fell madly in love with the trail. This was when we vowed that some day we were going to find a way to hike the Appalachian Trail. One of the best views we got on that trail in those 5 days, is one of the best views on the whole 2,190 mile trail. Mount Katahdin is a breath taking sight.

Our second hike, as Meadow pointed out in a way, was more of a challenge. I realized this time that hiking the whole AT was going to be much more physically taxing than I thought after the first trip. Even though the physical challenges are not my favorite thing, I love being in the woods. I know Meadow does too, and she is a really good hiking dog, but this trip made me realized that this is maybe more than she can handle.

Fortunate for us, we found out that Meadow was able to access a road when she got hurt on our second trip. We were able to get her off the trail before she would have seen the steep slide of boulders at Chairback Mountain. This would have been too much for her. I wouldn’t have asked that of even the very best hiking dog (As she is, don’t let her think otherwise). We were lucky and even though the more taxing the second trip was, we still had a wonderful time.

Then came the diagnosis. Multiple Sclerosis.

What would happen? Would we still hike?

Months later was again our anniversary. Year 7 in marriage, and 16 together in total. Yes, a far more challenging year, but we are going to give this new chapter in our live its all.

We decided to do the less challenging section of the hike that we had done the first time. The northern half of the 100 mile wilderness, our favorite years past, just in time to bring peace back to our lives. Ah, this is going to be magic.

Meadow came, as she was able to do this one the first time with us. It was so much fun again. Ben was doing great, despite his new condition. We did better than we did the first time, doing long miles and with less weight.

Everyone brings way too much stuff the first time. We finally learned our lesson.

Ben and Meadow were having a great time. Even though I found out, when he was behind me, he hid some of his symptoms at times, we still did some 14 mile days.

Life is good! We can still do it! Until unfortunately Meadow hurt herself again. At Antler’s Campsite there was a beautiful secluded spot. This was the same spot we used the first time we hiked. Except this time when Meadow went swimming she cut both her front paws on broken pieces of fresh water clams.

We really could tell after hiking out of this campsite, that she did not want to do this any more. She sulked when putting her pack on and off the next day. She was no longer happy to see all the hikers. She was done!

We ended that day at Nahmakanta Lake and realized we had a dirt access road near by. There were also 2 amazing campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Glamping for a hiker. We also found one bar on our cell phone and texted for help. Once we had reached family and knew we had supplies for a few more days, even supplies for mending Meadow’s wounds, we decided that we needed to stay right there and enjoy a couple more days of peace and quite.

It was perfect!

We stayed there 2 more days before we got picked up. We realized some really important things on this trip. One was that Ben CAN still hike. And the other, Meadow, though a great hiking dog, is not going to make the whole AT with us.

She would be far happier with family at home in her bed or on the couch covering a lap with her favorite humans.

Every dollar raised directly supports people living with MS in our community, funding important programs and services and fueling research. You are helping to create a bigger impact than you may realize. http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/mymsvstheat Our personal fundraising efforts to help with any medical expenses during our journey https://gofundme.com/my-ms-vs-the-at