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What happens when you decide to throw caution to the wind, decline your PhD acceptance, quit your job, and travel the world for 10 months—all while managing Crohn's disease? Friend of the show and health psychologist Josie McGarva takes us along on her extraordinary global adventure, revealing both the challenges and profound joys of pursuing dreams despite having IBD.

From the medication logistics nightmare of switching from the medication she was on for a long time to one that she can more easily travel with, to having her mother smuggle medication internationally hidden inside fluffy socks, Josie's preparation for this journey was an adventure itself. With refreshing candor, she shares her experience navigating living and volunteering abroad while traveling on a tight budget of just $1,000 per month.

Josie's travels have taken her from the breathtaking mountains of Patagonia to the vibrant temples of Thailand, with meaningful stops volunteering at hostels, dog rescues, and teaching English in remote villages along the way. Through food poisoning in Thailand, 28-hour bus rides in Argentina, and confronting roosters at dawn in remote villages, Josie demonstrates remarkable resilience while never losing sight of why she embarked on this journey: "I'm finally healthy, which is why I have to go."

Beyond the travel tales lies a deeper narrative about identity and chronic illness. Having been diagnosed at 13 and sick throughout her formative years, Josie reflects on how being in remission has allowed her to question how much space IBD should occupy in her future life and career. Her powerful message resonates far beyond the IBD community: limitations are real, but with creativity, determination, and support, dreams remain within reach.

Links:

• Our first episode with Josie
• Our Research Roundup episode with Josie and Stacey Collins, RD
• Josie's Instagram account
• Workaway- volunteer while traveling site
• The Workaway opportunity with Dani and the dog rescue
• Fundacion Animal Chile

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