As the "post-pandemic" world opens up again, many of us are racing to recapture the joys of carefree travel. But if COVID-19 has taught us anything, we won't take our freedom, our planet, or our health for granted. We speak to an intrepid female traveler who, after a life-altering accident, embarks on adventures at her own pace.
In October 2018, the 22-year-old travel philanthropist Morag Forbes was at her feet. A recent graduate, had recently moved to London for a busy role in the railway industry and was looking forward to a long weekend at Madrid With friends in november. This girl has been going places.
But one day, while cycling home from work, Morag gets off her bike in a hit and run. In an instant, her life was turned upside down.
"I never thought I would go abroad again."
Before the accident, Morag was an avid traveler. “Traveling has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was fortunate to grow up traveling the world with my family. Then as I got older, I started to travel independently. From attending a conservation course at Kruger, South Africa to study abroad in Rotterdam, Holland For a year, to travel alone throughout the Southeast Asia. Traveling was part of my identity. It never occurred to me that one day I wouldn't be able to venture so easily anymore."
After the accident, travel was a back seat for Morag. She had to learn to walk again and underwent four knee operations to restore her right leg. Unfortunately, she developed a slew of other unexplained symptoms—from double vision, loss of balance, and chronic joint and muscle pain in her right leg and hip, to difficulty with fine motor skills and to misaligned messages between her brain and right limbs. .
Not only was Morag's pain and lack of movement a hurdle when it came to travel — her newfound disabilities raised practical barriers, too. "As long as I had an undiagnosed neurological problem, I couldn't get travel insurance anywhere, for any amount of money."
Moreover, the mental health struggles stemming from the traumatic event, exacerbated by long waiting lists in hospitals and multiple COVID-19 lockdowns, have made recovery more difficult. "There was definitely a grieving process that had to go through," says Morag, 26. Then the world started to open up again and people started their lives again and I'm still stuck. I didn't think I'd ever go abroad again."
Turn things around in Turkey
Fortunately, this fear did not materialize. In March 2022, Morag was finally diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a complex condition that affects the nervous system and can arise as a result of physical and emotional trauma. The late diagnosis, while frustrating, gave her some answers and the ability to pursue an improved treatment plan — which means things are starting to look brighter.
Between finally being able to get travel insurance, getting approval to travel from my medical team and making sure I was strong enough, there were a lot of balls to juggle, but I felt ready to travel, and I knew I could make it work.'
After testing the waters by taking day trips close to home, then having a family vacation Italia Under her belt, Morag was ready to fly on her own, and she chose to join us Trip highlights Turkey (Her daring fourth flight—the first since the accident). “I didn't know exactly how things would turn out in Turkey, but I knew that living in fear was even worse.
“I was still sick in Turkey. I had to deal with a lot of additional problems, from managing medications and symptoms, to not being able to eat much. But I still had a great time.”
One of the particular experiences she had on that trip gave her a renewed perspective, in more ways than one.
"The sunrise hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia was probably one of the best experiences of my life ever. Lives up to all the hype. You feel like you are weightless floating in the air. To see so many balloons of all different colors floating over a landscape so diverse in geology and archeology And the history... it was amazing.
“It was very moving to think that not so long ago I was at the start of my first three-month hospitalization. If you had told me back then that I was going to fly through the sky in a hot air balloon in Turkey, I would never have believed you. So this was special.” very ".
Looking forward to the future
Life continues to evolve for Morag, and things are getting better. Started a Masters in Social Work in September 2022, recently returned from a few days in Rotterdam with friends and looking forward to potential trips to take over the Christmas holidays.
“I am very inspired to travel more. I don't think going back to full solo travel is the right thing for me right now. But I liked the mix in it turkey To spend a few days on my own and then join a group. I can't be as comfortable as I used to be, and I certainly can't travel light with just a carry-on bag but I can make it work.
“My travel list is really very long. I would like to see South Vietnam And the CambodiaAnd I'm thinking of going for it Balkans very!"
Advice for travelers with special needs
Morag is passionate about encouraging other travelers with disabilities to get out and see the world. Here's her advice for those considering it.
“I think everyone worries about standing out, and as someone with a disability, that fear is magnified. But even though I felt shy about using my walking stick on long travel days; about having to run to service stations because my digestive issues (which Showed up since the accident) It was working; and I took my meds in front of people - no one cared. Honestly, people rarely notice, and when people do, it wasn't a big deal.
“Traveling with a physical or mental illness is stressful, and joining an organized group just helps take some of the stress off. I recommend speaking to Intrepid beforehand. They were really helpful in making sure I was as prepared as possible.
“In practice, make sure you have a very comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers all of your health conditions. You'll likely need to pay extra, and if you're anything like me, you may need to take out a specialist insurance provider. But it was a huge relief for me knowing that if If something goes wrong then I will be able to get the care I need.
“I am so grateful to be supported as a disabled traveler and still be able to see the world. I like to think that by sharing my travel experiences I can inspire other disabled people to travel too.”
And some final words of wisdom? "You don't need things to be perfect and you don't need to feel prepared, you just need to take that first step and see what happens."
Learn more about Accessible travel with Intrepid. Want to follow Morag's journey? Check out her blog Morag's life or follow her on Instagram @tweet.
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