TREKKER GIRL MOROCCO BOUND: Life after Blood Clots or How I Learned to Live and Love Life as a Thrombosis Survivor

After having traveled to Morocco more than a decade ago, anything to do with this country interests me. Throw in trekking in the Sahara and I’m hooked, especially since I am a hiker as well.Author Dawne Archer describes her desire to live life fully despite her condition of having pulmonary thrombosis (blood clots). She and a former high school friend meet up and share their stories. They eventually challenge each other to raise money for respective charities. I found it interesting that the English classmate who had never traveled abroad chose such a rigorous, out-of-her-comfort-zone charity trek—not Archer, a British expat who lives in Majorca, an island off of Spain.I enjoyed reading about the friends’ training leading up to the trek, and Archer’s money-raising endeavors from boot sales to dancing. She mentioned previously raising money for the Lions Club, which interested me since I’m a fellow Lion. Descriptions of the trek itself were detailed, entertaining and depicted the various challenges Archer and her friend faced. Accustomed to riding in the desert in a 4X4, I would have never guessed how grueling trekking through various sand depths would be for hours and days on end. I’m sure I would have been first in line for bandaging my blisters!Thanks, Dawne, for sharing your story, your determination and courageous spirit while taking on the daunting trek through the iconic Sahara desert.

When Dawne Archer discovered in her twenties that she had clots and a pulmonary embolism, she promised to make every effort to increase the public’s awareness of the dangers of thrombosis. Then her father died from a clot too and her resolve strengthened.This memoir is about the author’s decision, with a close friend from her teenage years, to trek across part of the Moroccan Sahara to raise money for Thrombosis UK. It leads the reader through her painful efforts to get fit and her other fund raising ventures to the trek itself. I have to say I admire her immensely, but I also think she was bonkers too...in the best possible way. Without spilling all the beans, Dawne had more than the usual challenges and they were tremendous as it was. She deserves immense kudos for accomplishing her goal.The book is great fun to read. It romps along and the reader feels that s(he) is there with Dawne and her friend, experiencing every step with them. The descriptions of the desert are lovely and it made me want to do it too. I could see the beautiful sunsets, feel the searing heat and taste the dust. Just wonderful. It is very well written, and well edited with great natural dialogue. It is also informative about Thrombosis, so really useful as well. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it highly.And just in case anyone is hesitating to buy, Dawne Archer is donating the proceeds of the book sales to Thrombosis UK.

The author suffered a thrombosis at age 26 which could have taken her life. She donates the profits of the sale of this book to Thrombosis UK. It’s a worthy cause as many people die each year from undiagnosed blood clots. She is very fortunate to be alive as even her doctor missed the diagnosis. The trek in question was a fundraiser for Thrombosis UK.An Englishwoman now living in Mallorca, Dawne contacts a schooldays friend in the UK and together they plan to join a group of Saharan trekkers for a 6-day hike in the desert.It sounded very exciting and indeed I was looking forward to the trip itself, as being an armchair traveler for the most part nowadays, I rely on others narratives to take me on journeys to somewhere wild I have never been and would never venture to go! The desert is not for me; I spent a few days in Arizona in high summer once and though I could appreciate the landscape, my Irish eyes felt dry and parched. When I got back to the Pacific Northwest of USA where I now live, I feasted on the tall green firs like somebody starved. Any trip to the Sahara, Gobi or any desert will only be in my imagination as I follow the adventures of others braver than I, for though films in desert settings have fascinated me (e.g. Laurence of Arabia) I haven’t any wish to collect sand in everything – hair, shoes, sleeping bags, even toilet paper - as was Dawne’s and her friends’ fates.Dawne begins to train for this trek well in advance but just four weeks from her departure to Morocco, she suffers a debilitating injury to her back. The trip is thrown into question. But she’s determined – nothing will stop her, and the generosity of donors who are sponsoring her is a strong motivating factor. Nevertheless, she is not fully recovered by the time her departure date rolls around.And so to Morocco, and off I virtually go to the desert with Dawne and Sarah and the others of their group. Casablanca has the gripping effect on her as it would have on me – the classic film of the same name, with visions of Humphrey Bogart! I love the description of the Berber style hotel – this was the group’s last bit of comfort before sleeping on rolls for the next 6 nights in tents supported by poles, not quite sturdy enough, we find out, to withstand an encounter with a nosy camel.Dawne takes us day by day through the adventure as she has her own personal struggle with constant pain. She bravely sets it to one side to appreciate all this unique opportunity has to offer. Vast landscapes, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, waves of billowing dunes even if the prospect of climbing them is, for her, more difficult than for the other trekkers. For them, there is also the childlike delight of riding the dunes down the other side, an activity she cannot risk.The privations of meeting bodily needs. How happy they are one day to find an ‘auberge’ (a kind of pub) with flushing toilets and cold drinks! A Berber trail they take causes her imagination to take flight about the people who made their way along this way in centuries past. A line of camels emerging one day on the horizon arouses as much curiousity as it would have in ancient travellers. Mirages, oases, scattered habitations, everything one would expect to find on a desert journey make their appearances in time, and more.But I’m giving away too much! I loved this trip with Dawne and companions. She has a humorous, chatty style. And no trip is complete without a description of the foods eaten, meals greatly anticipated at the end of their long days. She does not disappoint.More importantly, Dawne also gives vital information about the risks, signs and symptoms of thrombosis. Raising awareness about this or any disease is a great public service; well done, and thanks for taking this reader with you on your desert adventure!

Dawne Archer is a survivor of both a pulmonary embolism and a DVT. Sadly, her father succumbed to a pulmonary embolism at a relatively young age, and Dawne was faced with survivor's guilt.Both she and her father were flagged as carriers of Factor V Leiden, which increased their susceptibility to blood clots.Determined to raise awareness of this hereditary condition, the author decided to embark on a six day fundraising trek in the Moroccan desert. She was joined by her childhood friend.Although they had trained together in the heat of the Mallorcan sun, neither of them anticipated the challenges that awaited them, both before and during the trek.A painful back injury would have deterred many from completing such a challenging walk. However, sheer guts and determination resulted in both an inspiring and transformational journey.As a carrier of Factor V Leiden, I applaud the author for raising awareness and funding for Thrombosis UK.

They say that every now and then it's a good idea to get out of your comfort zone and do something you've never done before. Dawne Archer certainly did this, when she and an old school friend decided to sign up for a trek across the Sahara Desert to raise funds for Thrombosis UK. Dawne has Factor V Leiden, which means she is more susceptible to blood clots/ deep vein thrombosis, having inherited the gene from both parents (her father died from a blood clot to the lung). She had already suffered a life-threatening thrombosis in her twenties, but now in her fifties she also has other health issues that made her wonder whether in reality she would be able to complete the trek.With the health problems Dawne had at the time, I would never have even contemplated such an arduous task, but this lady had true grit and a grim determination not to let down her sponsors (all proceeds of the book's sale go to Thrombosis UK). She and her friend set off with a support team and other more experienced trekkers to discover just what it's like to walk across the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert in broiling heat. Whether or not she completed the trek you will have to find out for yourself, but the writing is such that you can imagine yourself actually there in amongst the heat, sand, scorpions, blisters, and the endless desert vista stretching for mile after sandy mile.A recommended 5 star read. Kudos to Ms Archer for having the guts to do something as strenuous as this!

The book synopsis tells us the author is a blood clot survivor who decides to go on a trek in the Sahara Desert to raise money for Thrombosis UK. That, in itself, piqued my interest. But, wow, there is so much more to this memoir.Gritty in places, highly emotional in others, this is a terrific story excellently told. I love Dawne’s straightforward writing style, adored her descriptions of the desert, and hugely admired her courage and determination. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book and applaud this lady for her bravery and fundraising efforts. Oh, and if she writes a sequel, I’ll be first in line to read it.

I was sure I would enjoy this book as Dawne is one of my fellow clotter friends however I wasn't prepared to fund myself ditching any plans I had for last Sunday and spending the day reading the whole book. There were bits that I found so sad, bits that I found so amazing, bits that made me laugh out loud and although Dawne had mentioned she had done a fundraising event, I had no idea it was this difficult. As someone else said I really felt I was with her - can't climb stairs without lung and leg pain - but from the comfort of my bed I was there!I really identify with Dawne's wonderful friend as we rather short of stature girls can get left behind at times.This is such a great read which proves there is life after clots and that mind over mater is very powerful. Well done Dawne you did it and made Thrombois UK proud.

Dawne Archer's reaction to a life-threatening illness was punchier than most - she trekked across the Moroccan desert to raise funds for Thrombosis UK! This is an inspiring story, but also an entertaining one. From the heights of stunning sunsets to the lows of walking boots repaired with gaffer tape, Dawne writes about her journey with vivacity and style. I hope she pens more books in future, although "Trekker Girl Morocco Bound" is a hard act to follow.