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THE ART OF THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN, SHOWER and potty plus tent camping & MORE!SUMMER 2021BROOKE whippleGET OUT & GET HAPPY!GIRL IN THE WOODS

Fearless and unstoppable, Melissa “Moe” Wheeler’s adventure resume includes incredible feats: bungee jumping in New Zealand and South Africa, scaling the heights of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and paragliding over the Swiss Alps. Beyond her bravery lies sheer determination, as evidenced by her athletic accomplishments, which include half marathons, triathlons and even Ironman triathlons.This 61-year-old mother of three from Round Rock, Texas speeds up when most of us start slowing down. She began running as she entered her 50s and continued to push herself by moving into the triathlon circuit of swimming, biking and running. But in May 2015, she ran into trouble. “I developed a consistent dry cough,” says Moe. “I also felt fatigued and had asthma-like symptoms.” Undeterred, she continued to train—ultimately focusing on the 70.3-mile Ironman Boulder in August 2017. She finished the race in 8:30.20, just 20 seconds shy of the cut-o time which resulted in her disqualification. Frustrated, she consulted her pulmonologist. “I told him I was done and he needed to fix me.”Her Diagnosis X-rays revealed growth on her lungs. “They wanted to do a biopsy, but I told him it would have to wait until after Ironman Wisconsin—I had trained too hard to give up.” Ironman Wisconsin didn’t turn out as Moe hoped. She finished 132.5 miles of the 140.6 before being pulled Go girl goGo girl goMAKingEVERYBreathcountwith Melissa WheelerBy Terri MarshallHiking Glacier National ParkMoe with Congrats on New Lungs from Medical Team Training for the Ironman TriathlonBungee jumping New Zealand70 GIRL CAMPER / SUMMER 2021 ◼ LIFESTYLE

o the course. “I assumed I would just come back and do it again and finish the race, but that wasn’t the case.”A lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), defined as a terminal lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or IPF. Moe’s lungs were hardening and dying. She had two to five years to live without a lung transplant. Undeterred, she continued running—only now, she required oxygen. “I had signed up for several races and I wasn’t going to stop until I couldn’t do it anymore.”Moe Turns Back to Camping Having spent her childhood camping in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico, where her grandmother had a cabin and a trailer, Moe returned to her roots when she bought her first camper in July 2018. “I was in a very bad place at the time, slowing down so much,” she said. Introduced to Girl Campers in November 2018, Moe knew she had found her group. “I’m now on my third camper and currently remodeling a 4th—a 1973 Vintage Streamline.”Camping with her oxygen on hand, Moe did as much as she could. But it came to a halt when the pandemic arrived in 2020. “Because of my lung disease, my husband had me bubbled-wrapped and my camper sat in the driveway for a year.”Bad News Turns to Good Moe’s condition deteriorated quickly in 2020 and by May, she could barely walk down the street without passing out. A respiratory infection landed her in the hospital in early June, but a lung transplant evaluation secured her a place on the transplant list. Five days after the listing, Moe got the call. “We found the perfect lungs for you.” A successful lung transplant on June 30, 2020, gave her new lungs. After three months in the hospital, she went home and began living her life again.Back to Camping & Training As of this writing, Moe has been on six camping trips, with many more planned. “Initially, I was a nervous wreck due to my weakened immune system. But I learned to take care of myself and not be afraid to ask people to mask-up for me.”Moe camps in small groups with those who are observant of her needs. “Girl Camper has been amazing, I feel safe.” This wonder woman among campers has also resumed training. “I’m training for the San Antonio Rock-n-Roll half marathon in December 2021. It was my first half marathon, and now it will be my first with my new lungs.”Continually motivated by, and eternally grateful to her donor and his/her family whom she hopes to meet someday, Moe’s daily motto says, “Make every breath count.”Moe hiking with her familyBack in her happy place camping71 GIRL CAMPER / SUMMER 2021 ◼ LIFESTYLE