Jaime's Unexpected Adventures

Written by: Jaime Albright Henighan

I didn’t grow up traveling much, and we never went abroad. In my mind, that was something only wealthy people did. I never had a passport or made a list of “dream destinations,” it all felt too far out of reach.

Then life happened. I became a young mother, married my sweet husband, and together we raised six amazing children. Our trips were simple but cherished: spring break drives from Georgia to Florida or, every few years, a big save-up trip to California to see family. Still, the idea of seeing the world felt much too big for me.

That changed when I joined my church on a mission trip to Haiti. For the first time, I needed a passport. Afterward, I tucked it into a folder, unsure if I’d ever use it again.

Fast forward: life grew heavy. In 2021, our 17-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. The following year, our 22-year-old son received the same diagnosis. Doctor visits, medical bills, and the weight of helping my children navigate chronic illness consumed me. Travel was the last thing on my mind.

Then, on October 23, 2023, tragedy struck. At 3:30 a.m., we woke to our home in flames. By the grace of God, we all made it out, pets included, but we lost everything: photos, heirlooms, cars, art, memories. A 4,000-square-foot home reduced to rubble. As forklifts cleared the wreckage, my son spotted something in the dirt. It was my passport. Against all odds, it had survived.

At the time, it didn’t feel like a sign. But the next month, my son and I were invited to Ghana for a groundbreaking kidney conference because their rare disease had been traced there. We expedited his passport and went. We stood in slave castles, walked through villages, met incredible people, and touched history in ways we had never imagined.

I’ll never forget standing barefoot on a beach in Ghana, the waves at my feet, watching my son in the ocean. In that moment, I realized the healing that comes from seeing the world, understanding where we come from, how we’re connected, and how those stories still shape us today.

Since then, everything has changed. My daughter’s senior trip abroad? We went. A mother-daughter trip to London with my mom and sister? We said yes. Colombia for my sister-in-law’s birthday? We went. My perspective shifted: travel isn’t just about vacations. It’s about experiencing the world, pausing long enough to connect, and truly living.

Today, all six of our children, ages 19 to 31, have passports and have traveled abroad. What once felt impossible has become part of our family’s story, and that brings me so much joy.

I’ve learned that life happens. We can’t plan every detail or wait for the “perfect” time, because that time may never come. We have to live for today. We have to take the trip.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaime is originally from California and her life goal is to truly live and soak in moments. Her husband Josh and her have six adult children, three dogs and live in Alpharetta, Georgia. Jaime enjoys exploring small towns and traveling. She is a social worker, forensic interviewer, podcast producer and kidney health advocate. “I love to stay busy doing things that matter.”