About Jess & Tom

A Life Built Around Wonder

Whether it is the sighting of a pride of lions walking along the road in Kruger National Park in South Africa or the breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the experiences of our daily lives as world travelers often leave our mouths agape with the sheer wonder of it all.

Amid all of these spine-tingling adventures, life has a way of presenting surprises of its own, some of which shift our magical years-long journey into moments of fear, apprehension, and uncertainty. After having visited all seven continents over the past 14 years, including Antarctica in 2018, our lives have been a continuous stream of jaw-dropping experiences that have left us in awe of the world around us.

Little did we know, after embarking on this exquisite journey on October 31, 2012, that we would encounter the challenges that befell us in 2019 and 2020. From time to time, we stumbled upon obstacles. How could we not?

But somehow, with our ever-growing experience and determined resiliency, we figured it all out. Whether it was a booking error of our own making or a situation completely beyond our control, as a solid husband and wife team, we relied upon our resources and one another to find a solution. Through it all, we maintained a high level of confidence, always holding onto a sense of humor and the belief that, in the end, everything would work out.

And, in every case, it did work out.

When Everything Changed

The most devastating moment came at the end of January 2019. During what was expected to be a routine visit to a local doctor in Komatipoort, South Africa, to refill a few prescriptions before heading to Kenya, it was discovered that I had a previously undiagnosed cardiovascular disease. Three of my four coronary arteries were 100% blocked.

Emergency open-heart surgery became my only option after an angiogram at a small hospital in Nelspruit, about an hour from our rented holiday home in the bush in Marloth Park.

We were terrified. How could this happen? I had exercised all my life, was slim and fit, and had always maintained a healthy diet. Our lives, aside from the occasional stressful travel day, were relatively stress-free. This was something entirely beyond my control. It was hereditary.

What followed was a series of convoluted and exhausting months. After the surgery on February 12, 2019, recovery felt endless. There were four trips to the operating room, nine days in intensive care, three weeks in the hospital, and infections in both legs where grafts had been taken. These required two additional surgeries on each leg and another hospital stay. At times, it felt as if our travel days might be over.

And yet, through it all, we never once had the conversation about stopping.

Choosing to Carry On

My husband Tom became the most devoted and patient caregiver one could imagine. We carried on, leaving South Africa after three months of recovery to travel to Ireland, which had already been part of our plans. We rented a car and drove to Connemara, settling into a beautiful seaside home where recovery was still far from complete. I struggled daily, and yet we quietly avoided discussing what seemed like the obvious question. In the end, it was a conversation we never needed to have.

After three months in Ireland, we embarked on a 12-night cruise from Amsterdam, including long walking tours in St. Petersburg. I could barely walk, but I did not complain. We simply adjusted, slowed down when necessary, and continued forward together.

From there, we spent two months in England and Wales, staying in four different locations. Gradually, I began to feel that recovery was within reach. Still, we never spoke of ending our journey.

On October 24, 2019, we sailed from Southampton to the United States for a two-month visit with family. Then, on January 29, 2020, we traveled for over 30 hours from Phoenix to Mumbai, India when I was finally feeling strong again. We were hopeful, excited, and ready to continue.

India, Uncertainty, and an Unexpected Pause

On February 2, 2020, we began an extraordinary one-week journey on the Maharajas Express train from Mumbai to Delhi, followed by a 55-night private tour across India. It was nothing short of glorious.

We were scheduled to sail from Mumbai on April 3, 2020, on a 29-night cruise to Greenwich, England. But as we traveled, we closely followed the growing global concern surrounding Covid-19. By March 10, we were notified that the cruise had been canceled. At that point, we made the difficult decision to end our tour early and return to Mumbai.

What followed was a whirlwind of uncertainty. Flights were canceled and rescheduled, and when we finally made it back to Mumbai, we planned to return to South Africa, a place that had come to feel like home.

On March 20, we arrived at the airport in the early hours of the morning, only to be turned away after hours of waiting. South Africa had closed its borders to foreign nationals.

We returned to the hotel, shaken and unsure of what to do next. The airport was set to close within 36 hours, and international flights were rapidly disappearing.

Returning to the United States was not an option for us. Covid-19 cases were rising quickly there, and given my health risks, the thought of navigating multiple airports was overwhelming. In addition, our international health insurance would not cover us in the US, and we no longer had a home there.

So, we stayed.

After several days, our hotel announced it was closing, sending us scrambling to find another place to stay. What followed felt surreal. Reservations that did not exist, hotels closing by the hour, transportation options disappearing. At one point, we truly had nowhere to go.

With the help of a kind hotel manager, we were eventually placed in the Courtyard by Marriott in Mumbai, with the understanding that they too could close at any time.

And so, we waited.

Day by day, in lockdown, in a comfortable room with reliable WiFi, supported by a small and dedicated staff, we watched the world change. Food supplies dwindled, uncertainty lingered, and the question remained whether we would soon be without even this temporary refuge.

Still Moving Forward

Now, after 14 years of traveling the world, we find ourselves in one of the most unexpected pauses of all.

We continue to draw upon our emotional reserves, our deep commitment to one another, and our unwavering passion for this extraordinary life we have built. Somehow, we found our way through all of this, just as we always have.

We knew we could carry on.

And yes, we certainly did.