camarks1234
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2008
Back Story:
Our world changed forever March 17, 2008. AJ had been experiencing migraine headaches for several weeks. The morning of the 17th he seized and was rushed to the ER where they life-lined him by helicoptor to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. He had a brain tumor that had burst near the brain stem.
Lots of miracles happened Monday. Chris & I were in Las Vegas for business and had to rush back at the mercy of the airline. We finally got to the hospital around 9:00 that evening. Luckily AJ was in Gods hands that day and some very wonderful surgeons.
7 months later with 4 surgeries, 31 radiation/chemo combo treatments behind us we have embarked on his mait. chemo routine. We have 6 cycles of that. 5 down and 1 to go. (It was a diagnosis of Medullablastoma btw)
He is doing well. His last MRI came back with just a ghost of something, hopefully just scar tissue. They were able to remove approx. 95% of the tumor with surgery back in March/April.
We are supposed to be done with his chemo in December (what a great Christmas present!) His last MRI in October showed no changes. Praise the Lord!
Onward! We received the good news a couple months ago that AJ had been approved for his Make A Wish, which is a 4 night 5 day Disney Cruise. They talked a lot to him and told him he might be happier going to DW because it would be a longer trip for him, but he has been enthralled with ships and pirates for quite some time thanks to Pirates of The Carribean!
We went to DW in 2004 and he saw the magnificent Disney ships in port at that time as well, so I don't know if that was an influence or not.
I guess I should give you the cast, right? I'm new here so I don't know if I'm doing this right. (are we supposed to pick characters?)
AJ (age 8 - wish child), would like to be Pluto (I think literally - he was pretending to be a dog today when the nurse was checking his breathing)
Chris (Dad) would have to be Donald Duck
Austin (13 yo brother), maybe Grumpy dwarf? J/k, might have to come back to him.
Mom (me), AJ says Minnie Mouse (I don't think I'm that cute though)
AJ and I
AJ and Chris
Brother Austin (taken this summer at a friend's pool)
My current fave picture of AJ with Lucy (his special dog that has helped him through a lot of this. We got her for him in June after radiation treatments were over)
We will be setting sail on Feb 1, 2009! (if all goes as well of course). We have heard they may pick us up and take us to the airport in a limo, so that has the boys twittering as well.
That is all for now. AJ and I are in the hospital right now getting his 5th round of chemo and fun in the sun seems a long way away. Any advice offered we would love as we're new to cruising. We already reserved the Atlantis water adventure as our Naussau expedition.
Chris & Austin plan on parasailing at castaway cay. AJ and I pretty much just want to relax on the beach there.
More soon.
Our world changed forever March 17, 2008. AJ had been experiencing migraine headaches for several weeks. The morning of the 17th he seized and was rushed to the ER where they life-lined him by helicoptor to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. He had a brain tumor that had burst near the brain stem.
Lots of miracles happened Monday. Chris & I were in Las Vegas for business and had to rush back at the mercy of the airline. We finally got to the hospital around 9:00 that evening. Luckily AJ was in Gods hands that day and some very wonderful surgeons.
7 months later with 4 surgeries, 31 radiation/chemo combo treatments behind us we have embarked on his mait. chemo routine. We have 6 cycles of that. 5 down and 1 to go. (It was a diagnosis of Medullablastoma btw)
He is doing well. His last MRI came back with just a ghost of something, hopefully just scar tissue. They were able to remove approx. 95% of the tumor with surgery back in March/April.
We are supposed to be done with his chemo in December (what a great Christmas present!) His last MRI in October showed no changes. Praise the Lord!
Onward! We received the good news a couple months ago that AJ had been approved for his Make A Wish, which is a 4 night 5 day Disney Cruise. They talked a lot to him and told him he might be happier going to DW because it would be a longer trip for him, but he has been enthralled with ships and pirates for quite some time thanks to Pirates of The Carribean!
We went to DW in 2004 and he saw the magnificent Disney ships in port at that time as well, so I don't know if that was an influence or not.I guess I should give you the cast, right? I'm new here so I don't know if I'm doing this right.
(are we supposed to pick characters?)AJ (age 8 - wish child), would like to be Pluto (I think literally - he was pretending to be a dog today when the nurse was checking his breathing)
Chris (Dad) would have to be Donald Duck
Austin (13 yo brother), maybe Grumpy dwarf?
J/k, might have to come back to him.Mom (me), AJ says Minnie Mouse (I don't think I'm that cute though)
AJ and I
AJ and Chris
Brother Austin (taken this summer at a friend's pool)
My current fave picture of AJ with Lucy (his special dog that has helped him through a lot of this. We got her for him in June after radiation treatments were over)
We will be setting sail on Feb 1, 2009! (if all goes as well of course). We have heard they may pick us up and take us to the airport in a limo, so that has the boys twittering as well.
That is all for now. AJ and I are in the hospital right now getting his 5th round of chemo and fun in the sun seems a long way away. Any advice offered we would love as we're new to cruising. We already reserved the Atlantis water adventure as our Naussau expedition.
Chris & Austin plan on parasailing at castaway cay. AJ and I pretty much just want to relax on the beach there.
More soon.
I'm glad AJ's chemo is almost done and that you've been granted a wish!! 
Too much for a little boy. 
His puppy is so cute too. 
I wonder if there are any books that specifically talk aobut the Disney Cruises?? I know that there's a board on here about it, maybe the posters there would be able to give you more info. 
