Salvation Mountain: A Beacon of Love in the Desert. The barren slopes of Imperial County’s desert plains can leave very little to the imagination. The typical frame of reference for the land east of the Salton Sea is a seemingly endless stretch of sand, rock, and expired plant life suffocating underneath a blanket of sweltering heat. Miles of arduous territory seldom explored by human feet can leave a lone traveler thirsting for more than just water — some form of gratification or surprise.

The human mind holds the power to be the most life-saving and fantastical tool at our disposal, but it can also serve as a deceiving weapon that threatens to tear apart the seams of our reality. Dennis Lehane’s 2003 thriller Shutter Island follows this train of thought in a psychologically-charged plot that leaves readers in a suspended state of disbelief as each revelation comes to light. The plot follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his recently-assigned partner Chuck Aule as they are sent

Desert Health is pleased to feature this follow-up to Crystal’s 2016 story on her struggle with Pemphigus Vulgaris as requested by a reader. Original editorial is available at DesertHealthNews.com. It’s been three years since the day I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Pemphigus Vulgaris. Being on the cusp of young adulthood while in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in communication, I took that diagnosis as a sign that life as I knew it was coming to a complete halt.

Last year was shaping up to be a very important year. I had just gotten an associate degree in journalism and was all set to transfer to a four-year university in the fall to pursue my B.A. On top of that, I turned 21 in February and was looking forward to savoring all the exciting things young adulthood had to offer. It was during this very same month that everything changed. I noticed a few innocent-looking blisters on my nose that were fragile to the touch.