A WISH for Cold Tea? Ana's aMAWzing Disney Trip! 12/1-12/7 ~Last Entry~ p.127

[that's nice]

Yay! The fun has begun.

HEY!!!!!

I'm in!!!! I can't belive that it is on page 3 already...I am going to have to quit work so I can sit at home and read Dis all day and stay caught up!

You'll be fine. With the holidays coming, I think the updates will be slow at first. If I start going to fast let me know.

What the heck? Page 3 already? Sheesh, I step away from the dis for a few hours and Tim throws up his TR?!?! And I was SO determined to make page 1, what a disappointment I am to myself! Tim, I can't wait to read this puppy! Please be sure to drag it out nice and long (perhaps a year?) so we can enjoy it!

And I love the title (even though none of my suggestions made it in)

Sorry... I was having a problem with photobucket, then it just let me log in. You are here and didn't miss anything yet. Don't worry!

Sorry your suggestions didn't make it.

Good grief Tim, I just read your 1st post here and nearly cried! What a beautiful way to start your TR! Juliana deserved every blessed moment! I love your phrase "But you come to realize that the most amazing, important, life changing event is the birth of a child." It is exactly how I feel about my own sweet girls! Lordy, I'm getting all weepy again! Ok, I'm fine now, I promise! Love the pic of Juliana too, all diva-like!

NO CRYING ALLOWED!!!!

I must warn you, there are a few weepy moments in this TR.

 

[that's nice]

I stumbled onto your PTR right before you guys left but I'm here for the start of the TR at least.

I'm glad you are here for the TR! Thanks for joining!!!

Yay Tim! I am in!

Hello!!!

I'm in just don't make me cry!!

I can't promise that but you will have fun with this TR. There are quite a few characters that will be posting to keep it on the lighter side I'm sure.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Checking in! Looking forward to it all!

 

[Millie12591]

Here!!! I sucked at being on your PTR, I hope to be better about being here. Hope your not holding your breath about it though, at least not until after the holidays.

I can't wait to hear all about your baby girl's trip.

 

[onelilspark]

Just barely on pg 3? I am ashamed

 

[billwendy]

Woo Hoo - I made it!! Bring on the stories and Pictures!!!

 

[brookerene]

I'm glad to read a dad's TR.....some of my best Disney Memories were with my dad before he died from cancer when I was 13. I'm subbing to this TR! and I'll have to check your PTR again.

 

[PrincessRora]

Your daughter is so adorable (And she shares a name with my neice, although she spells hers Julianna). I'm definitely subscribing. I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

I'm here! Can't wait to hear all about Ana's WISH trip!

 

[englishrose47]

Okay a day late and a dollar short!!!But I'm here !!Can we all say "that's nice"

 

[ireland_nicole]

Ooh, I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

I'm here, saving my place, so excited you started.

 

[stopher1]

I'm here... a little late, but here nonetheless.

I kinda gave up on your PTR (sorry - so much going on you know...) but will try to stay on target with this one... at least until we head out to CA for our - as we've started calling it (tongue in cheek of course) - California Cancer Tour! Going to spend time with my aunt (lymphoma) and my FIL (multiple varieties as you know) - and hit Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian for 3 nights along the way - oh and spend Christmas with the family (both sides) as well. We have not been away from our own home for Christmas in more than 10 years - so this is a very big thing for us. We leave next Sunday, and my DD is so very ecstatic. I can't honestly say the other 4 of us are ecstatic, but there are definitely times in life that you do things for other people and to make them happy even if you can't jump up and down about it yourself, right? This is one of those times for my family. There's just so much "stuff" going on out west that we are not looking forward to walking in to, but that's a topic for a completely separate discussion really, not for here inside your TR!

But even when we get back, I know you'll still be here so I'll try to keep up.

Oh, and let me just say, even if it is a bit of a spoiler for your report (sorry, I do that sometimes), it was awesome to be able to meet you, Mel and Juliana finally in person at the MK...even if only briefly.

 

[Becc1]

Hey there, I'm following you over from your PTR, can't wait to see how your trip went!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

May I add a request here please? Could you please add links to updates? I'd love to read your story, but sifting through 4 pages of "hey, I'm here" without any updates gets old really fast.

 

[that's nice]

Checking in! Looking forward to it all!

Hey! Thanks for joining! Love your NYC pics BTW!!

Here!!! I sucked at being on your PTR, I hope to be better about being here. Hope your not holding your breath about it though, at least not until after the holidays.

I can't wait to hear all about your baby girl's trip.

The PTR was all over the place. I hope to keep this on track.


Thanks for joining in!

Just barely on pg 3? I am ashamed

Just like I am ashamed that I couldn't follow your dining report.

Woo Hoo - I made it!! Bring on the stories and Pictures!!!

Don't worry, there are stories and PLENTY of pictures!!!

I'm glad to read a dad's TR.....some of my best Disney Memories were with my dad before he died from cancer when I was 13. I'm subbing to this TR! and I'll have to check your PTR again.

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your father at such a young age. I'm glad you have those memories to cherish forever. Thank you for reading along.

 

[that's nice]

Your daughter is so adorable (And she shares a name with my neice, although she spells hers Julianna). I'm definitely subscribing. I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

HI! I hope to get to the the first part of our trip coming up tomorrow.

I'm here! Can't wait to hear all about Ana's WISH trip!

Are you still working on a PTR? I feel like I haven't 'seen' you around in a while. Nice to see you here!

Okay a day late and a dollar short!!!But I'm here !!Can we all say "that's nice"

Aww Rosie, it's ok. You are here now and you haven't even missed anything.

Ooh, I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

I'm here, saving my place, so excited you started.

Thanks for joining the party!!!!

 

[that's nice]

I'm here... a little late, but here nonetheless.

I kinda gave up on your PTR (sorry - so much going on you know...) but will try to stay on target with this one... at least until we head out to CA for our - as we've started calling it (tongue in cheek of course) - California Cancer Tour! Going to spend time with my aunt (lymphoma) and my FIL (multiple varieties as you know) - and hit Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian for 3 nights along the way - oh and spend Christmas with the family (both sides) as well. We have not been away from our own home for Christmas in more than 10 years - so this is a very big thing for us. We leave next Sunday, and my DD is so very ecstatic. I can't honestly say the other 4 of us are ecstatic, but there are definitely times in life that you do things for other people and to make them happy even if you can't jump up and down about it yourself, right? This is one of those times for my family. There's just so much "stuff" going on out west that we are not looking forward to walking in to, but that's a topic for a completely separate discussion really, not for here inside your TR!

But even when we get back, I know you'll still be here so I'll try to keep up.

Oh, and let me just say, even if it is a bit of a spoiler for your report (sorry, I do that sometimes), it was awesome to be able to meet you, Mel and Juliana finally in person at the MK...even if only briefly.

It seems like you have been on the road every week! It is so nice that you are spending time with your family over the holidays. Plus being in California probably beats being in Indiana!

Thanks for adding a spoiler! It was great meeting you last week. I felt like I have know your forever. I wish we had more time but as you know, we were in MK all day and getting tired. Hopefully, we will have the chance to meet up again in the future.

Hey there, I'm following you over from your PTR, can't wait to see how your trip went!

Thanks for coming over!!

May I add a request here please? Could you please add links to updates? I'd love to read your story, but sifting through 4 pages of "hey, I'm here" without any updates gets old really fast.

I have saved a spot in the second post for a TOC once I actually get to the updates. I work all weekend so my updates tend to be on Sunday night or during the week. I do have a little time to jump on and respond to posts, but not to write full updates. I am going to post some of the back story of why Juliana's received a Wish tonight and I hope to get the actual report started tomorrow night.

 

[that's nice]

I am copying this from my PTR so anyone who is new can follow the story. I hope to have the 1st update from the trip up tomorrow or Monday.



When we found out Melody was pregnant, we were ecstatic! We were living with Melody's mom at the time and were closing on our first house. Mel's pregnancy went as planned and on March 11th, 2006 our baby was born. She was the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.

Of course she had to tell the world she was here!

Like other first time parents we were learning as we went, but we settled into a nice routine. A few pics after we were home....

Throughout her first year, Juliana hit every milestone early. By Christmas (9 months) she was walking saying a few words. Her first word was hot. She was a very healthy kid. She only had 1 real cold and a stomach virus about 2 weeks before her birthday which lasted about 24 hours.

We had a big party for her first birthday. And she apparently loved her cake!

The day after her party we brought her to her 1 year well checkup. Her regular pediatrician was on vacation so we saw another doctor in the office. Everything went as planned except when the doctor felt her abdomen. The doctor told us she thought Juliana's spleen was a little enlarged- probably due to her recent sickness. They took some blood to run labs and she wanted us to come back in a few weeks because she just wanted to check her stomach again. They called us the day after her visit and said her bloodwork came back normal.

We were a little worried, but it seemed like it was not a big deal. We just continued on with every day life. 2 days before our visit back to the doctor I shot this short video of Juliana.



It seemed like we had a normal, healthy baby.

When the day came, Wednesday March 28, 2007, we thought we would just have a quick stop in the office and be done. Melody was going to go straight to work from Juliana's appointment. We went to have her abdomen rechecked and we were very surprised to learn it was still enlarged. She sent us to Waterbury Hospital for an abdominal ultrasound. The radiologist confirmed that it was not her spleen at all, but a mass in her kidney or possibly an enlarged lymph node.

We were immediately sent back to her office. We knew right away...something was wrong. When we walked into her office, the receptionist ushered us directly to the doctors office. Her doctor informed us that we would be referred to an oncology specialist at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. We felt like our life was about to be turned upside down. Why was our perfectly happy & normal one year old going to an oncologist!?!?!??!!

We met with a doctor at CCMC who discussed with us possible causes/ diagnosis related to her 'kidney mass'. He informed us of important bloodwork, urine specimens, & a CT scan that needed to be completed ASAP. We went home that night not knowing what was in store for Juliana. The next morning we had to force Juliana to drink a contrast which was needed for the CAT scan.

When we arrived back to the hospital we found out that Juliana needed to drink more of the contrast. We met a nurse in the oncology department who ended up have to force over 100cc's of this nasty stuff into our kicking screaming CRYING little girl. (Her name is Barbara... and she is still traumatized by this to this day. Barbara still talks about this day when we see her for Juliana's checkups. She has been Juliana's oncology nurse from day 1)

Once Juliana drank all the contrast, it was time for the CAT scan. The test went as well as we could have hoped & did not need to be repeated. What we didnt expect to happen next was we were about to be informed of the worst news we could have ever heard. Our daughter had a malignant tumor on her left kidney.Juliana was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor. There are 500 cases each year diagnosed in the U.S. Wilms is a type of cancer that grows in the kidney.

After her scan, Juliana had a fever and we were admitted to the hospital. Her fever never went away. We stayed there for a 3 days and we were finally allowed to go home on Sunday evening April 1.

We were scared and we just couldn't believe what was happening. Here are a few pictures we took the night before her surgery.

Continued in next post...... or HERE!

 

[that's nice]

We were up early on Tuesday April 3rd, 2007, and on our way to the hospital. Our family met us at the hospital. They were very supportive and I am thankful they were there. During the surgery, her left kidney & tumor were carefully removed. A port was put in under her skin to receive the chemo treatments. All her surrounding organs were checked and were fine. Also her lymph nodes and glands around her kidney were biopsied and were fine. This meant there was no spreading of the cancer. We felt relieved that her prognosis had improved.

It was hard to see all the tubes coming out of our baby girl. I felt it was important to take some pictures to show her when she could understand. She slept in a hospital crib, which for the first few nights Melody or I slept in it with her. I'm 6'1'' and I don't think those cribs were designed with someone my size to sleep in.

After 2 days we were actually able to pick Juliana up for the first time after her surgery. It was a very emotional moment.

We were overwhelmed with the outpouring of cards, gifts, and prayers from family & friends. Every day, Juliana got stronger and stronger. We were able to take her for wagon rides around the floor.

Slowly, she was getting her appetite back. Her first shot at jello.

Her personality was coming back too. She must of been starting to feel better.

Here you can see her port accessed and if you look closely you can see her incision on her abdomen.

Easter was Sunday April 8th, 2007 and we were still in the hospital. Our parents brought us Easter dinner and it was the best tasting food I ever had.

Our little bunny..

On Monday morning April 9th 2007, Juliana received her first dose of chemotherapy. Shortly there after, we were discharged from the hospital. It was such a relief to be heading home.

Once we got home, Juliana was running around and acting like nothing ever happened. Every day was an adventure once home though. Somedays we almost forget that she was sick and other days we were reminded every minute. Somedays she ate good- others not so good. Somedays she was very cranky; others she was fine.

We had to bring Juliana weekly to CCMC for her chemo. Everytime she had a fever we had to go to the hospital (about 30 minutes away) sometimes at 2, 3, or 4am. While she didn't lose all of her hair, it thinned out quite a bit.

On August 13, 2007 Juliana received her last chemo treatment and about 1 month later her port was removed.

Juliana now goes every 6 months for an ultrasound, x-ray, and bloodwork. Her visits have gone from weekly, to monthly, to every 3 months to every 6 months. Up to today, her cancer hasn't returned and she will be considered 'cured' when she is cancer free for 5 years from her last chemo- which will be August of 2012. Our little girl has been through so much in her short life already, and I am thankful everyday I have with her.



Up next... the day is finally here!