Jacob Tomkins describes the nine weeks he spent in 2022 working as a lifeguard at a summer camp in the United States as ‘a life-changing experience’.
Aged 21, Jacob who lives with CF, spent four months travelling overseas on his own. Jacob spoke to Tom Valenta about his trip.
The first nine weeks were in upstate New York where he undertook his lifeguard duties at a camp on the banks of Schroon Lake, some 390 kilometres north of the city of New York, and not far from the Canadian border.
Arrival in America was something of a shock for Jacob who was born and raised in the East Gippsland town of Bairnsdale. He landed in New York City – a huge metropolis of over 8 million people – where he spent three days on his own – a vast contrast to his hometown with a population of around 8,000.
He had arranged the job through the Global Work & Travel group, and he loved his time at the camp. Not only was it an occupation that required a high level of physical fitness, but as Jacob said; ‘It was the best thing I’ve ever done, and it taught me a lot about what I want to do in the future.’
Then, with some of the boys from the camp, Jacob went on an RV (recreational vehicle) trip from Miami, Florida to Las Vegas in Nevada. This was a huge journey from the south-eastern tip of the United States to the western region.
Seeing many parts of the USA was another highlight and he soon realised that every state was like another country and had a different culture – from the lush, coastal metropolis, Miami Florida to the epicenter of country music, Nashville Tennessee and the global gambling capital, Las Vegas in Nevada.
It was at a bar in Knoxville, Tennessee, that Jacob met Lauren, a college student from Canada who is now his girlfriend.
After the road trip, Jacob went to Mexico for a week and then returned to the United States and reconnected with Lauren. She is planning to come to Australia after completing her college degree and he would like to return to the USA to spend time with her.
And what impact did travel have on a young man with CF? ‘Because it was summer in the US, I found I was perspiring a lot more than summer at home and this caused dehydration. The full time work meant that I struggled to find time to do my nebuliser and ingest my medications. Rising earlier and going to bed later was essential to ensure that I took all the medications and did my physiotherapy,’ said Jacob.
What motivated him to take the trip? ‘I wanted to go outside my comfort zone – to travel by myself.’
Before this journey, Jacob had travelled overseas – to Bali, Fiji and Thailand – as a young boy with his parents and sister, but never before had he gone on his own.
He returned home in October and qualified for the new CF drug Trikafta which he describes as ‘amazing’. Jacob says it has given him ‘a night and day of difference.’ He coughs up little or no sputum and says, ‘I’ve now got so much wind in my sails – I can run and not cough and do lots of physical activity and not feel weighed down.’
With less time needed for physiotherapy and his medication routine, Jacob is enjoying easier and happier days where he can devote more time to his other interests. He has a great love of sport with football and boxing being his two favourites. He also is a regular at the gym where he does weight training. As he says, ‘It’s a massive weight off my chest – both literally and figuratively!’
And what of the future? Jacob would love to travel to the UK and Europe in the coming year. He also plans to reconnect with Lauren. Considering his career options is another matter for Jacob. He currently works part-time as a bar tender and, following his time at the summer camp, he now has some aspirations as a youth worker.
The views, experiences or comments shared on this website are not medical advice and may not reflect opinions or beliefs of Cystic Fibrosis Community Care. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding your health.
