Tell us about your experience on Alone
Going back again was such a wonderful opportunity. This round I was playing to win and I prepped hard to go all the way. I had fire, a (very) basic shelter, water and food all on Day 1 and starting day 2 my traps were out, fishing poles were made and I was doing well. When the MS started to hit I was shocked but rolled with it determined to stick it out. I had no idea I would get so ill – I kept waiting for the tables to turn and to feel better but it was a quick slide downhill. It was beautiful though. I loved how rugged and remote Mongolia was and I felt at home quickly there, especially once I got my shelter built. I also loved being out on the land with the 9 other participants. I thought of each of them daily and prayed for them – wishing each of us a good experience. These are people I love and care for and I honestly wanted everyone to have a good journey
How are you doing/feeling now?
I am happy and well. I still have MS but it doesn’t have me. I rely on lifestyle, diet, supplements and my herbal apothecary to keep me healthy and well. I live in the woods in SW Washington on land that I share with cougar, bear, deer, coyote, raccoon and many more beings. My kids and I have a great life here.
Can you tell us about the health complications that led to you tapping out?
Sure! I had an immune reaction to the tick-bourne encephalitis vaccine that we got at basecamp a week before launch. It hit me very hard. I started having MS symptoms that gradually progressed to paralysis. I kept hoping that the pendulum would swing the other way and that my wild diet and time in nature would be enough to overcome the symptoms so I held on as long as I could. But the MS took over and I had to tap when I could no longer move. The recovery process took 4 months but I’m happy to say that I did it all with natural means—no western medication or Big Pharma at all. Natural healing really does work. I hope that this story can 1) show that MS can still strike even if you have it more or less managed like I did and 2) that even if you are hit with an acute attack that you can still recover like I did….so keep up hope.
Tell us about how you’re able to manage your MS through non-traditional methods.
I manage it via diet (gluten-free mostly paleo organic non-inflammatory diet), lifestyle (daily gratitudes, time in nature…the mind-body connection is hugely important!), natural supplements and herbal remedies that I make myself. Also quiet time in nature is key. I felt so good on Alone Season 2—that was perfect for me.
Were you able to find any natural resources in Mongolia to manage your MS during filming?
There was plantain there, which is good for me. Also fish (omega 3s) and the wild foods that I ate all helped. But, unfortunately, when I had an acute attack I needed more than I could find on the land in Mongolia.
What advice would you give about wilderness experiences to people with autoimmune disorders?
Just do it! Time in nature is in itself healing. Get outside and experience nature to its fullest—I bet you’ll feel better being outside and eating wild foods. Even on days when you feel tired try and go for a short walk or at least sit outside.
Do you have any theories about the strange thing that you heard in episode 1? What was that?
The noises I heard were the deer alarm calling at what I also saw, which I am 99% sure was a bear. Makes sense that they would alarm call at a large bear. Most people thought that I didn’t know what the noise was but really it was that I couldn’t see the animal well…the noises were for sure the alarm calls. We were all on high alert!
What advice would you give to people who want to try something like Alone?
Try it locally first. Tell someone where you are going and try it out! Test your skills…and always be open to learning new ways of doing things. Be a life-long learner and be willing to listen to how others do things—there is always a new twist on an old trick to learn. If you are new at this try a traditional skills gathering or take a class from someone you want to learn from. Dip your toe in and I guarantee you’ll want to wade in deeper. I just co-taught a 5-day workshop with Larry Roberts and we had many beginners there—the class was super empowering for them and now they can take the next steps into learning more.
Does your family enjoy/connect with the outdoors as much as you?
Yes they do. My kids love time in nature and both are very skilled for their age. We just returned from 8 days off-grid camping at a traditional skills gathering, which is something we do often. My teenager (age 15) teaches skills to kindergarten-age children and my youngest son (age 10) is an explorer…he loves wandering in the woods discovering new things. They both know a lot about wild edibles and medicinals too. My youngest also loves fire skills.
How did Mongolia compare to Vancouver?
Mongolia was a much harder environment. The ocean always has something to provide, and while there were always some plants and insects to eat in Mongolia, big protein was harder to procure. The fishing was good though. I liked that we had the opportunity to trap. I set a lot of traps (pit traps, deadfalls and snares) and was confident that they would hit with time, especially once I got to know the movements of the local birds and mammals. The weather was one of extreme fluctuation versus Vancouver Island, which was pretty much just constant cold and wet. Building a solid shelter was key in both locations. Mongolia was also much more remote that Vancouver Island and thus the response time to an injury was longer. We knew this going in and I didn’t go anywhere without my GPS locator unit on and my tourniquet. You had to be 100% self-reliant in case of injury. The risks were very real and I am sure we all knew that and felt it.
What did you learn about yourself in going through this experience for a second time?
This time I went in to win it. Last time it was more a test of my skills. The bush can be humbling though and you never know what it has in store for you. This time I had huge health challenges, which wasn’t something I had anticipated. Coming out paralyzed was scary. Thank goodness I know how to take care of myself and am now walking once again. That said, I still am only at about 85% of where I was going in. It’s a journey and having a massive MS attack on international TV is a humbling experience—and one that is usually kept private. I just hope my very public tale will be helpful to someone else dealing with similar issues.
What exciting challenge are you preparing for next?
This summer I am taking some time to spend outdoors with my boys. I am still teaching a lot, running my herbal apothecary and helping others deal with autoimmune challenges using natural treatments through my wellness coaching work. I am also still working with the Kalahari San Bushmen on ancestral land rights and cultural regeneration.
What experience in the wilderness have you always wanted to tackle?
Not sure what’s next on my plate but I do love experiencing new environments—there is always so much more to learn. Right now I’m focusing on being home in my small community in Washington.
What do you hope viewers take away from your experience this season on Alone?
I hope that people with health challenges realize that there is hope and that western culture doesn’t have all the answers. Take charge of your health and look to remedies that have been around for thousands of years. Also, that even if you fall down (as I literally did on Alone) that there is still inspiration and hope in that. I didn’t get back up alone—I had family and friends who helped along the way and I am forever grateful for them. I hope that my story, while scary and difficult, is a reminder that many people live with illness on a daily basis and need support and also a reminder to look for alternatives for healing.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’d like to thank the crew who pulled me out with great love and care. It was a very scary situation to be solo and paralyzed. I hope that the public doesn’t focus on the fact that they put someone with MS on the show (recall that I did very well on Season 2) but that things happen that are out of our control and we have to do our best with what is thrown our way. I spent 4 months recovering and am still working on recovery. That said, considering what happened I am doing very well and living a full happy life.
Find out more about Nicole’s apothecary, Survive and Thrive, at nicoleapelian.com. *You are about to leave the HISTORY.com. As such, A+E Networks is not responsible for any third party content.
