Martin Burnham
PadreCamino
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April - May (2019) SJPP to Finisterre
So, as I prepared my final packing items on Wednesday, June 1st, I was getting more and more excited for my impending departure on June 5th. Me and my buddy from college were all set to make our way from Baltimore to SJPD for the start of our pilgrimage; it was a dream come true for me. Then, Thursday June 2nd I awoke with a very strange pain in my right side. It lingered all day as my worries began to build - this can't be happening NOW!! I am leaving in 3 days - at least, that's what I thought. Phone conversations with a trusted college friend who is an ER nurse practitioner in Indiana led me to determine what would be the essential elements that would lead me to an ER visit. Worsening pain was one of the factors; I could not sleep at all Thursday night / Friday morning so it was off to the ER Friday at 4 am. After several hours in the ER I was diagnosed with a bleeding cyst on my right kidney and was told that the Camino was probably a no-go. I put off calling my buddy until the last possible moment - no one wants to be the bearer of THAT news. On Saturday, as my hospital stay continued with them monitoring my blood levels, I made the call and told my buddy that I thought I was "down for the count." That was an extremely disappointing conversation. So, the Camino dream lives for another day, but the walk isn't happening this year. God has another kind of walk in store for me. For those out on the trail who I would have met over these days, buen Camino and know that you are all in my prayers. I ask for your prayers as well.