Here we go.....!

[laurenmama]

After months and months of lurking around disboards (and at the nagging insistence of Bill Lin ) to get information for my upcoming MAW trip, I've decided to "come out of the closet" and reveal myself. We're a family of five: lauren, (28) bryan, (30) skyler, (4) evie, (7) and the wish kid himself, Robert (8). Our trip is scheduled for Aug 19th-Aug 25th and we will be staying at GKTW village, and we couldn't be more excited to be a part of this amazing vision of Henri Landwirth.
Rewind back to 2003, Bobby had been having high fevers every night for about a month or so. Numerous trips to the doctors brought no results. I never suspected it could be anything more than maybe the flu. His doctor at the time wrote me countless prescriptions for antibiotics (as many doctors tend to do these days) to no avail. He was starting to bruise all over his body (from dangerously low platelets) and had an enormous swollen lymph node in his neck.
The physician that was taking over for the former doctor saw Bobby, and recommended doing some bloodwork. The call came the next day,
I'll never forget those words: "I have some alarming news, there was leukemic cells found in your son's blood." I didn't know the first thing about leukemia, aside from kids having bald heads and looking quite ill. Needless to say, this was my worse nightmare. It turned out that he had high risk acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), high risk, because of the huge amount of WBC present at dx. The next months were a blur of spinal taps, bone marrow biopsies, chemotherapy, infections, hospitalization after hospitalization. It was utterly heartbreaking to watch my beloved son being poked and prodded with needles, and witnessing the side effects of the chemo. I credit my faith in God with how I was able to get through it, without it, I do not how I would have made it.
I was first told about the MAW foundation while Bobby was undergoing his first bone marrow biopsy. I looked at the hospital social worker increduously and said "that's for kids that are going to die! granting their last wish before they die! no way am i doing that!" She then took the time to explain to me that MAW is there to give back a piece of childhood that the child has missed out on due to the illness. That made a little more sense to me.
MAW called me a few months ago and asked if Robert would be interested in sharing a wish with them. This was five looooong years after I went on that (misguided) rant to the hospital social worker. So we went for it, with Bobby choosing Disney and Sea World. (He is absolutely obsessed with fish, birds, dinosaurs, and the like, so I'll be needing advice on where I can find these things!!)
I'll try to figure out how to post pics soon!
The story is not over yet, but I know he will have a happy ending!

[Diamondintheruff]

Yeah! I get to be the first to post.

So this is your first trip to WDW?

We'll be there the same time as you. We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside from August 18-27.

We're heading out to Seaworld for a day as well. I just booked us a behind the scenes tour at seaworld. It's called the polar excursion. We get an hourish tour of the polar exhibits specifically the penguins where they let you pet one. My kids are totally excited about that.

I'm also new to posting pictures. Have you tried photobucket yet? My pictures were way too large when I first posted them. I had to edit them smaller on my own program before I could send them to photobucket.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip. Do you have any restaurants lined up? Do you know which days you will be in each park?

[bigdisgrandma]

I found you! I am so sorry about your son's diagnosis but so happy that you are all going to have this wonderful MAW trip. You will all love it so much and you can get so much help from the WishTrippers.

Waiting to hear more,
Denise

[GoofyDoo]

Yay! Another PTR!! We'll be at GKTW about three weeks ahead of you!!! I'm so glad that your son gets his wish--you are all very deserving. Can't wait to see pics!

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Yay!!!! Another MAW ptr!!! Seriosly going to figure out how to add an hour or two to my day to get all these ptr's read!!!!!!! I can relate to all the pokes, prods, bm biopsies, etc. Koryn (4) had HLH and was treated on the Hematology/Oncology floor and ended up getting a BMT to cure her disease. Those biopsies are no fun!!!! You are going to have so much fun on your trip!!!

[bex271]

WOOHOO!!! another MAW ptr read. You're off to a good start.

becca

[laurenmama]

Yes, this will be our first trip to Disney. Actually, this will be our first real vacation as a family. We have not had the opportunity to travel much due to
Bobby's illness. We are all super excited. Planning for a trip to Disney has been pretty much all-consuming. My husband keeps teasing me about how obsessed I am with planning. I just want to make sure we get to do and see everything we want!!!!
Since we have not been to Disneyworld before, I'd like to get some input as to where's good and where not to eat at the parks. Also, is spending a half day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom feasible? Or is that trying to cram too much into one day?

[Diamondintheruff]

is spending a half day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom feasible? Or is that trying to cram too much into one day?

Depends on what you are trying to do. Do you mean the morning at Epcot and the afternoon at Animal kingdom. Or do you mean only half a day at each of the two parks to never return to them again that trip?

Last year we spent two full days at Epcot and could have spent more there. We spent one full day at AK and it was enough. If it was my first trip and I could only spend half a day at each of the parks I might opt to spend a full day at just one and save the other park for another trip. Otherwise I would feel like I didn't get anything done in either park. But that is just my opinion.

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Originally Posted by laurenmama

Yes, this will be our first trip to Disney. Actually, this will be our first real vacation as a family. We have not had the opportunity to travel much due to
Bobby's illness. We are all super excited. Planning for a trip to Disney has been pretty much all-consuming. My husband keeps teasing me about how obsessed I am with planning. I just want to make sure we get to do and see everything we want!!!!
Since we have not been to Disneyworld before, I'd like to get some input as to where's good and where not to eat at the parks. Also, is spending a half day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom feasible? Or is that trying to cram too much into one day?

It can be done, but you waould have to limit what you see. You would have to hit your "must-do's" and that's it. If you think that ou will be bcak in the future, I would do one day in one park. There are good things at each park, so for me it would be hard to decide!!!!

As far as places to eat...I guess we have never had a bad meal. It would depend on what your tastes are, do you want table service meals or couter service? Are you thinking of character meals?? Allears.net has a really great section on the restaraunts and what they have for food.

[AmberGreenawalt]

I just subscribed to your thread. We're a fellow "Wish" family too. I'm looking forward to hearing all about the fun you'll have...during your planning and on the trip!

[kimmylaj]

just wanted to say hi and to tell you have a wonderful trip. i will also be arriving on aug 19 . i am subscribing to your thread.

[the4princesses]

sending some your way for your trip!!
Have alot of fun!!
Kathy

[laurenmama]

Well I thought it may be a good time for an update.....So far this summer has been really busy. Seems like it's flying by...I can't believe we only have 18 more days until we go to Disney!!!!
Even after reading any and every book on Disney they had at my library, I still feel like I haven't quite prepared enough. It seems so overwhelming trying to cram a million and one activities into six short days. But, I have come up with somewhat of a loose schedule of which parks we will go to on each day. I figure the first day we will just spend the day at GKTW. It seems they have alot to do there, and it will give us a chance to rest before all the mayhem begins!
Bobby will be going for his checkup the week before we leave, which I have no worries about at this point. He has been in full and complete remission now for five years!!!! We are so very excited to be taking this trip, we have a countdown calendar on the fridge that the kids check off every morning. Bobby can't wait to go on the Yedi ride at AK. Eve and Skylar can't wait to meet the Princesses. I, am busy perusing every book and website I can find, trying to figure out how to make the most of our vacation. Anyone have any good ideas, let me know!

[mistymouse5001]

[laurenmama]

Well it's been awhile since I posted...I've been innundated at work trying to prepare for my week off, so I haven't gotten a single minute of peace!
We are scheduled to leave Wednesday morning!!!! And from the weather reports, it looks like there is a hurricane or tropical storm headed for Florida!!!!! I don't know how that is going to effect where we are, but I hope it all works out! The kids are absolutley bonkers about going on this trip, and I would hate for it to be a washout...Well, only time can tell...