On day 15 I did not wake up miraculously healed. My foot was still in agony… And my stomach decided to join in.

I have suffered from stomach issues for years. And every now and again I almost forget about them until BOOM. My body has a meltdown and decides to forget how the whole ‘digestion system’ works.

Crippled and unable to consume food I lived off lemonade for 2 days.

I started to think that the first two weeks of my Camino were deceiving my easy… In the past 14 days I had covered 430km through all kind of weather and scenery. And then there I was at day 15 hardly able to walk to the supermarket. There was 350km between me and Santiago then and it seemed painfully close…

Realising I was sick and injured I was receiving many kind messages from all over the world – the most important being advice from my good friend and physio-in-training, Jacquie. Through messaging I described my issues and she soon diagnosed my from the other side of the world – demanding that I rest and ice and not push myself – she even visited my mother back home to share her advice.

I was in forced TLC time and after two weeks was taking my first ‘rest days’ on the Camino de Santiago.

Something about not being able to walk or eat created a quick downwards spiral of any Camino de Santiago optimism. The words Buen Camino had lost all relevance and I realised I might be ending my pilgrimage very, very soon.

I survived day 15 but was extremely weak and went to bed much less optimistic.

The next morning I was worse. I stumbled downstairs to tell the hotel staff that I would need to stay another night and collapsed on the floor and began to cry.

I was a complete mess.

The kind ladies working at the petrol station/diner/hotel helped me back to my room and took on the role of mothering me.

Before I knew it they had brought fresh lemonade, plenty of water and two doctors appeared in my room. One of the doctors put an injection has put in my bottom while the hotel staff went into town to collected pharmacy supplies for me

I instantly started to feel better just from the crazy acts of kindness happening around me (even though none of these kind people could speak much English and my doctor – patient communication was done via Google translate).

Everyone I loved was very far away but I was feeling a whole lots of support and love from different corners of the planet. Although the injury and illness combination had destroyed my spirits I allowed myself to be super proud of the 430km I had already walked across Spain. I realised the illness may stop me from getting to Santiago but every step on this journey so far has been amazing and I was proud of what I have managed to achieve.

That evening I made an effort to eat a proper dinner – even if it was just some eggs and soup.

It stayed down.

I went to bed with an alarm set for the morning just in case I did miraculously recover…

Would I be able to keep walking? Only time would tell…