God's Acre Healing Springs

God's Acre Healing Springs

Blackville, SC

September 30, 2009.

"The water from these artisan wells is said to have mystical healing powers."

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By nature, Kellisa has mystical healing powers. While Lisa was pregnant, the best doctors in Chicago told us that Kellisa would not survive more than 24 hours after birth. After 16 weeks and a day in the NICU, the attending doctor told us that he never expected that day to arrive...the day Kellisa got to go home. Yes, she was on 20 medicines, oxygen and monitors, but she was going home beyond all the odds and predictions by highly trained and experienced professionals.

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If you look at where Kellisa started and how much she has achieved in 10+ years, it's beyond comprehension. I give Kellisa all the credit for her unrelenting determination to fight through the challenges of her life. Kellisa has always had a large circle of doctors, specialists, nurses, therapists, teachers and aides that continue to help her stay healthy (by Kellisa standards) and reach her full potential in life.

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Recently, I became interested in alternative methods that might help Kellisa. I really don't know what I'm looking for or hoping to achieve. All I know is when Kellisa does reach her potential, I want to look back without regrets. I want to know we did everything possible to help Kellisa.

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While conducting a Google search for these alternative methods, I came across Healing Springs in South Carolina. I read historical accounts as well as more recent reports of the water healing everything from poison ivy to arthritis to cancer. The springs are only four hours from Jacksonville and I decided to make a trip the next time I was working in the area. Within two days of making this decision, a customer that I hadn't had any contact with for over a year called and requested a jobsite inspection in Myrtle Beach, SC. I would be within one hour of the springs...was it meant to be?

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Would this water help Kellisa? Myself? I must admit having parents die early scares a person about their own life expectancy. Based on my parents, I would have less than 15 years left to live. I figure I could use all the help I can get. And Lisa? Would this water help heal her nagging ankle and/or cronic back pain from lifting Kellisa? What do we do with this water? Drink it? Wash with it?

I don't see anyway this could hurt, so there is nothing to lose. Time will tell if there is anything to be gained from these waters. On my way, I purchased two 7 gallon water jugs, maybe a months supply to start this journey. The springs are located in a rural area, typical of poor southern small town life. The park is clean and well kept by locals. It is said that 12 of the 100 or so locals are healthy and 90+ in age. When I arrived, there was a teenage boy and girl sitting on a picnic bench, harmless enough. At the springs was a 50 something lady filling 30-40 water jugs of every size, shape and color. I was a little uneasy, since it was my first visit and it oddly seemed like stealing even though the springs are free and open to the public.

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As my two jugs were filling, I took a cup and drank this clear, cold, pure water. First out of curiosity and secondly, I wanted to test the water hours before sharing with Kellisa and Lisa. The water tasted so pure it reminded me of the water I drank on Longs Peak and Mount Whitney years ago. I quickly drank a second cup and it's hard to explain, but I felt an increase of energy and well being...almost a good tingling in my chest and arms. This feeling lasted for several hours. It was a long evening once I returned home. Kellisa had physical therapy in St. Augustine, so we didn't do anything with the water today. The "healing" starts tomorrow.

"By tradition, Healing Springs got it's name during the Revolutionary War. In 1781 after a bloody battle at nearby Windy Hill Creek, four wounded Tories sent inland from Charleston by General Banastre "The Butcher" Tarleton were left in the care of two comrades who had orders to bury them when they died. Native Americans found them and took them to their secret, sacred, healing springs. Six months later the Charleston Garrison was astonished by the reappearance of the six men. All were strong and healthy.

Ownership of the springs passed from the native "Indian" tribes who revered them to an Indian trader, Nathaniel Walker, who bought the springs with corn. The site passed through several hands until it was acquired by L.P. Boylston. On July 21, 1944, he deeded the land and springs to GOD. The waters, by analysis are exceptionally pure and contain healthful minerals. People today, as in the past, believe they truly are healing Springs."

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

July 2006

We decided to spend the 4th of July long weekend in South Carolina. While searching for wheelchair friendly trails, I found a 2.4 mile boardwalk trail in Congaree National Park, making this an easy choice for a short trip.

It was beyond hot the whole weekend and to make matters worse, I was suffering from an allergic reaction. I was sick and miserable, but we completed the boardwalk trail. It would be nice to visit under better circumstances someday.

Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The lush trees growing in this floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the Eastern U.S., forming one of the highest natural canopies remaining in the world.

The park was originally called Congaree Swamp National Monument before becoming a National Park on November 10, 2003. The word swamp was dropped in hopes of sounding less mysterious and attracting more visitors to this underdeveloped park.

We were staying in Columbia, SC: home of the world's largest fire hydrant. This work of art stands at 39 feet tall, easily beating the competition in Beaumont, TX (24.5 ft.) and Elk Creek, Manitoba (29.5 ft.).

Kellisa's 1st Kayak Adventure

Lake Oneida

UNF Campus- Jax, FL

March 2007

Grandma was visiting from Chicago and Lisa wanted to visit the outlet malls in St. Augustine. I asked Kellisa if she wanted to go shopping with mom and grandma or go out and have fun with dad. If she picked shopping, we wouldn't have a blog entry. To this point in time, Lisa did not allow me to take Kellisa kayaking...something to do with the 1,000,000+ alligators that call Florida home. Oh yeah, and they view kids as meals. Lisa asked what I had planned before leaving and I claimed I did not know yet.

As soon as they were out the door and around the corner, I loaded the kayak on the roof and packed the Pilot with all the gear we would need for an afternoon of fun. We had to make a quick stop to buy Kellisa a PFD. I knew I was risking serious trouble, but I had kayaked 32 miles across the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia and had several kayak trips to the Everglades on my resume. I was 100% confident in my ability to take Kellisa kayaking and return her home without serious incident.

I selected Lake Oneida on the campus of UNF because I was familiar with the area due to hiking the trails surrounding the lake on several occasions. It was a small lake, so we would always be close to land. Plus, it was a popular campus with students always within shouting distance. The hardest part of the trip was getting a 65# kayak, all the gear and Kellisa in her travel wheelchair to the edge of the lake to start the adventure. As predicted, Kellisa absolutely loved kayaking!

I was more worried about Kellisa losing her glasses than alligators. The water was clear and I scanned the area before allowing Kellisa to splash some water. What you don't see is the paddle in one hand while the other snaps this picture.

We arrived home before mom and grandma. We even had time to unload and hide all the evidence. However, I wanted to share what we did that day hoping it would lead to more kayaking trips. When Lisa arrived home she asked what we had done. I answered with a slideshow and Lisa admitted that she knew I was going to take Kellisa kayaking. Being the ever supportive wife/mother...she did not stop or discourage me. When we got to the splashing picture she did say with some entusiam "YOU LET HER PLAY IN THE WATER"!!!

Cannon Beach & Ecola State Park, OR

Cannon Beach & Ecola State Park, OR
August 8, 2009

On our first full day in Oregon, we decided to drive over to the nearest beach. Cannon Beach is a quaint resort town on the Pacific Ocean. It can claim the title of "closest beach" to Portland. On the map it looks like a drive of an hour or so from Portland. The map does not tell you that once you leave metro Portland, it's a slow drive up and around many mountains. The drive is pretty enough, except for the few areas that have been clear cut.

As soon as we arrived in Cannon Beach, we found a parking spot and headed to the beach. Sounds like an easy plan, but the beach is down 12-15 feet from the parking area. Stairways or rough trails down the dunes lead to the beach. Kellisa is too heavy to carry, so we just went down the stairs with the off road jog stroller.

It was difficult pushing the stroller through the deep sand, but once we got to the wet sand, it was doable. A wave crashed and covered our feet with ocean water...freezing ocean water. The sun was hidden by clouds and there was a crisp breeze in the air. I had been hopeful that we would be able to take a dip, but it was not meant to be on this cold August afternoon.

Instead, we enjoyed walking up and down the beach with Haystack Rock dominating the view to the south. To the north sat Tillamook Head in Ecola State Park. After the beach, we walked up and down the few streets in downtown Cannon Beach. We stopped in the usual tourist stores and art galleries. A young woman in one of these businesses recommended a visit to Ecola State Park for the best views in the area.































The drive from Cannon Beach to Ecola State Park is a winding road through old growth Sitka Spruce. The road is slow, narrow and at times steep. Clark, from Lewis and Clark fame, made the same trek to view the Pacific Ocean. Once you emerge from the forest and wander out towards the head, the view of Cannon Beach is breathtaking. For movie buffs, most of The Goonies and the final scene of Point Break were filmed in Ecola State Park.

We hiked several trails through the rolling terrain to numerous viewpoints. At one point, we walked through a wedding reception that was taking place in the park. The wedding party was a unique blend of people best described as "gypsies". I thought it was odd that the parking lot was filled with old buses and campers, but it seemed to make sense now.

Oregon Zoo

Oregon Zoo, Portland OR

August 10, 2009

Our last full day in Portland was spent at the Oregon Zoo. It is a beautiful zoo set in a natural canyon. Some of the highlights include: two polar bears from Hudson Bay, Canada, Humboldt Penguins, eagles, an eagle nest for Lisa and a narrow-gauge railroad.







(Below) Kellisa happily
makes a donation with
mom's money.

Oregon Zoo is home to Polar, Sun and Black Bears

Tallulah Gorge State Park, GA

In May 2004, we visited Tallulah Gorge State Park in northern Georgia. This was one of our first outdoor adventures with Kellisa.

One of the most spectacular canyons in the east, Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and almost 1,000 feet deep.

1996 Chicagoland Flood

An Illinois record was set on July 17 and 18, 1996 for rainfall in a 24 hour period. A total of 16.94 inches fell on the southwestern suburbs of Chicago, including Bolingbrook. About the only time we got lucky with our house in Bolingbrook was during this flood, our lot was actually high and dry. A part of me thinks we might have been better off if the house had flooded.

The entire area around our neighborhood flooded. Only high clearance vehicles had a chance of getting out of the flood zone. Lisa made it to work with our Isuzu Trooper. I stayed home with my Honda Civic and documented some of the flood in the pictures below.

Orchard Drive and Lily Cache

Independence School

Lily Cache

Looking towards Lily Cache & Schmidt

Park on Lily Cache

Park on Lily Cache

Lily Cache and Schmidt

Boughton & Naperville Road

Greenway off of Royce Road