Dixie’s Wilderness Emergency Fund

Hey y’all, Dixie here!

As many of y’all know, on August 28th I was airlifted from Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness because of alarming symptoms.

I hadn’t felt like myself for the few days I was hiking—I had difficulties completing my typical mileage, felt fatigued, and was constantly having to stop for shortness of breath. The symptoms began light, but progressively got worse.

On the 4th morning, my heart was racing while I was at rest. My chest felt tight and heavy, and my Apple Watch heart monitor repeatedly detected atrial fibrillation. It was the most scared I’ve ever felt on trail—even compared to being bluff charged by a bear and staring down a mountain lion. With my family history of heart attacks (biological father died at 32), I decided it was unsafe to walk the 18 miles back to my car with a heavy pack. So, I pressed my Garmin Inreach SOS button.

A Lifeflight helicopter rescued me in about 3 hours and delivered me to Boise, ID hospital after about 4.5 hours. I was treated at a local Boise hospital. The hospital staff (and medics on the helicopter) were able to captured arrhythmias in my heart and urged me to visit my cardiologlist upon returning home.

The helicopter crew and hospital staff said they were very grateful I had pushed the button and asked for help. Evidently, many people wait too long and rescues become less successful and more tedious for the crews.

I finally received my bills from the hospital and Life Flight within the last few days. Because my medical insurance was set to kick in 4 days after my rescue, I am not eligible for any benefits from that policy. I did, thankfully, have some coverage from Garmin SAR plan for the helicopter flight fees.

Medical Expenses: $1814.80

Life Flight: $59,973

I have begun a claim with Garmin, and they should cover $50k of the expenses for the flight, leaving me responsible for $11,787.80 in medical and rescue expenses–due immediately.

As you can tell from my video of this experience, I HATE asking for help. To prevent being in this position in the future, I am increasing my coverage through Garmin to $100k and, as I already mentioned, I now have health insurance.

If you feel called to help, I truly appreciate that more than you know. Regardless, thank y’all for the support throughout the years and for checking on me during this experience.

I am currently under care of my cardiologist and am on my second week of a 2-week heart monitoring period. Next week, I will have a stress test done and then we will go from there. The doctor has asked me to stay out of the woods until he can make sure my ticker is cooperating.

Thank y’all so much, and I will keep you posted!

♥️Dixie