My parents always used to tell stories about their travels, and when I turned 18 it was finally my turn: my first Interrail. From that moment on, I was hooked. Gap years during my studies, internships abroad, working at surf camps, winter sports camps and in hostels. I made the most of every holiday.
In the final year of my studies, I worked as many hours as I could to save up for my biggest trip yet: travelling through South and Central America for as long as possible. No end date, no plan, just go.
And then, suddenly, I became very ill. It turned out to be Crohn's disease. I ended up in hospital seriously ill several times, and during that period I could really only think about one thing: how do I make sure I can still travel next year? There was a lot to arrange, and one of the biggest questions was my new medication. It has to stay refrigerated, and how do you manage that when you are on the road with a backpack for months?
Fortunately, I have now been stable for more than six months. Last summer I spent two months backpacking through Spain and Portugal, and right now I am in Morocco. It took some getting used to, but it went really well. Without my MediCooler, it would not have been possible.
On bus journeys and in hostels, I could keep my medication safe and at the right temperature in the electric medication cooler. I also kept an eye on the temperature through the app, which gave me extra peace of mind. A bus ride of a few hours was no problem at all. For longer travel days, a power bank worked best for me.
Now the gap year I have been looking forward to for so long is finally starting. With a bit of luck, good preparation and my medication cooler in my backpack, my big dream trip can go ahead after all.
Bas
0 comments