After a major car crash, I couldn’t travel for years. Flash Pack brought the joy back

A few years ago, I was in a very serious car accident. Hunter, my golden retriever dog, was in the car with me at the time, and I’m thankful every day that he was fine. However, things were different for me. I had to be airlifted off the highway to a trauma center where I was in the Intensive Care Unit for two weeks. 

What followed was 18 months of intense recovery, marked by multiple hospital stays and surgeries. I now carry a lot more hardware than I ever expected. This includes a spinal cord implant that deals with pain in my thoracic area, along with six ribs plated in titanium and some additional hardware in my left arm. I also deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. It’s part of my new normal. 

Last fall, I reached a point where I felt able to travel in the way that I did before my accident. I’ve always loved to travel – the more remote or exotic the destination, the better. I’ve worked previously in international health and development. That work took me all over the world, via service trips, from the Philippines and Ethiopia to Georgia and Azerbaijan.

I deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. It’s part of my new normal

I’m a pretty active person and traveling is where I find my most authentic self. I love meeting new people, being out of my comfort zone and trying new things. In the years after my car crash, I really missed that ability to explore and put myself out there.

But I was always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel – and doing what I needed to do to get there. Pilates, going to the gym, horse-riding; I wanted to do it all. Travel definitely counted among my goals, but I didn’t want to do things by halves. That’s part of the reason I waited over three years after my accident before taking a trip.

I finally went for it over Thanksgiving weekend last year. I decided to book Flash Pack’s trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos, for my long overdue fix of remote and wild adventure. It was a very last-minute decision – the trip departed just six weeks after, in early 2026 – but I was tired of waiting around.

Travel is where I find my most authentic self. I love meeting new people

Luckily my work was very accommodating. They said “go ahead, do it.” Meanwhile, the reaction from my friends and family was, “I bet you’re nervous. You must be anxious.” Funnily enough, I wasn’t. I just felt excited. I’ve never regretted going on a trip in my life, and I couldn’t wait to make new memories and friendships. 

I was a little anxious about being so far away from medical care, though. The Galápagos only has limited healthcare facilities, and I still see my neurosurgeon frequently in New York. It’s always in the back of my mind that I may need a hospital, but I try not to let that stop me.

I made Flash Pack aware of my condition, and they ensured that the team on the ground knew about it (including our exceptional guides, Alex in Quito, and Pablo in The Galápagos). My attitude was, if they didn’t have a problem with it, neither did I. They were very supportive about my situation, and made the whole experience – my first trip back, post-accident – a really special one.

We snorkeled every day, and it was the best I’ve done anywhere

I did take a few additional precautions. Since my spinal cord device is controlled by an app on my phone, I brought an extra phone as backup. And I also booked a left-hand window seat on my flights. Most of my injuries from the crash are on the left-hand side of my body, so I try to make sure that no-one will bump into me on that side.

The journey was worth it. There were so many wonderful highlights from my time in The Galápagos – it was the adventure of a lifetime. I love the water; growing up, I was a competitive swimmer. We went snorkeling almost every day on the islands, and it was the best I’ve done anywhere. 

At one point a sea lion swam directly underneath me, probably less than a meter away. I could see the bubbles coming out of its nose. It was incredible. They were such playful and fun creatures, and we were all really excited to see them up close.

I wasn’t sure how I would cope but I managed everything

Another amazing thing was that most wildlife in The Galápagos has no fear of humans. In the downtown area of Santa Cruz, there were sea lions on the sidewalks and on benches. They were just snoozing and frolicking about. It was pretty incredible.

As a region, The Galápagos does an excellent job of prioritizing wildlife and its ecological footprint. There seems to be a really healthy respect from the people who live there to make sure the animals feel safe and can go about their business. Tourists are also careful not to get too close or disturb them.

Even the trip’s smaller moments were great. In Santa Cruz we found a rooftop bar and sat chatting over an Aperol Spritz, watching the sunset above the harbor. We also went kayaking and bike riding, and did a 16-kilometer hike up the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela Island.

Everyone shared a similar mindset. We bonded quickly

For me it was very validating to feel comfortable and physically well while being somewhere new. As someone who deals with chronic pain and stamina issues, I wasn’t sure beforehand how I was going to feel or cope at any given point. But, as it turned out, I managed to take part in all the activities – and enjoyed doing so!

One of the biggest freedoms of the trip came with the ability to show up and be me – Rachel – rather than ‘the car accident girl’. It really was nice to meet new people and just be silly, excited and authentic together. Nobody was putting on a show. 

Our group of nine had great dinner conversations and bonded quickly over our love of travel. Everyone had their own interests and backgrounds, but we shared a similar mindset. We’d all taken time out of our lives to travel, and were equally curious about everything; from the food in Quito to the sea life or the different kinds of birds we saw (the Blue-Footed Boobies were especially spectacular). 

I don’t want my accident to define me, or limit how I show up in life

I’m still in touch with most everyone. We chat on WhatsApp; sending voice notes and photos, and sharing funny videos from the trip. My roommate and I have even planned another trip together, to Montreal, later this year. For someone who, like me, is mulling over an adventure after a setback in life, my advice is simple. Go for it. Flash Pack is flexible; no-one forces you to do anything. And if you think you can do it, you probably can.

For me, every day with chronic pain is a little different. I’m mindful of what my body is telling me. If it’s telling me to slow down, I try to listen. Yet I also make a huge effort to push through; to ensure that my experience doesn’t limit how I show up in life. 

We’re all products of our past experiences. My car accident is part of me, but it doesn’t define me. I’m very proud of my recovery, and of getting back to (almost) how I used to be.

Rachel Lazar lives in New Jersey and works in healthcare. She traveled with Flash Pack to Ecuador and the Galápagos.