all about Samantha and her pretrip to GKTW

[angel's momma]

Thanks for asking Angel just had clinic this week, and her ANC went up a lot. Glad Samantha's platelets are fine, sorry she's having the petchiae, hope they can figure it out. We're an hour away from our Children's Hospital, and though it is highly respected as far as most treatments, they don't have much understanding of Angel's diagnosis. Sorry about having to transition to the adult hospital. Angel was "podded" over to the adult side a couple of times when the Children's was over full. She still had children's nurses caring for her, but we sure missed all the amenities that they give the kids.

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi
I am glad her counts are up. It is so hard not knowing what the future holds.We are going to chop tomorrow to see if they will remove some of the tumors in her mouth. They won't remove her tumors based on fact that if some of the tumor is still left in that it will then come back worse than before. Your countdown is coming soon. I can't wait to hear how your trip is . We have always wanted to do the Disney cruise. Samantha knows the entertainment coordinator at give kids the world. So they have been talking back and forth. They haven't seen each other in 3 years so it will be an exciting reunion. Hopefully she will give us great tips. How often do you have to go tho the hospital for testing? Do the two of you make a day out of it. My daughter and I make a day out of it we go to lunch etc.. It makes it easier to go. Sam needs to talk to me

Stay well
Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Thank you Praying about tomorrow's appt. So neat that Samantha has a friend working at GKTW. Angel's down to once a month clinic visits now, but went twice a week for many months. Early on, it was a day long event just at clinic. When she stopped needing transfusions, we were able to eat out or shop a bit. Now she has to get right back to school, but we sometimes grab some fast food to eat on the way home. Hope you are able to have a nice time out together after tomorrow's appt.

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi,
Sorry I haven't been on in a couple of days. That is good that angel is down to once a month. Samantha has an attendance exemption so we get away with a lot as far as her not having to go back to school after her appointments. Because she is out so much she mostly self teaches. That and help from my older daughter(thank god). Her appointment was good she is scheduled for surgery the day we get back from her trip. They are going to take 3 tumors out of her mouth we will pray that this goes well so we can set the stage for other tumors located other places. It is so cool that you are under a month. Do you have excursions booked? Exactly where is the ship sailing to? heard they have so many activities on their Island. When are they delivering your package and tickets etc. Hope all is well talk to you soon

Stay well Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Glad the appt. went well. Praying the surgery will go very well, and that they will do the other tumors as a result. Angel mostly self taught in the fall too. Yes, we have a sea lion excursion booked in Nassau. This itinerary only goes to Nassau & Castaway Cay. She didn't want to any excursions on CC, she's looking forward to just being at the beach. We're supposed to get our packet 2 weeks prior. Hope you have a wonderful week.

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi
It is amazing that Angel Samantha and probably a lot of children in the hospitals are able to get through school teaching themselves. They have such drive. You guys are getting so close We are at the 30 day mark on Monday. The excursion sounds great . I hope you have a great time. Let me know how your package goes it is an exciting day. My sister and I keep finding more things for her reveal party it is so exciting. Samantha is so ready for the trip as are we. But before you know it, It will be here.

Talk to you soon
Stay well Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Yes, I know many kids who have managed to excel, but there are those that simply don't even try. The ones that make me sad are the ones that do try so hard, but just don't get the help that they need, and fall so far behind. Looking forward to reading all about the reveal party.

 

[angel's momma]

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi
Hope your Easter was good. It's funny all our kids are now grown so it changes the holidays . no little ones it was different. you are getting close. Is angel getting excited. we are still 3 weeks out but Samantha is so excited. She just can't wait . Did you volunteers give you your package yet. That is the day for us that it will seem so real. Hope all is well and your packing has started. let me know how things are going.

Have a great day
stay well
Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Thank Janet. Your 3 weeks will probably fly by, I know ours are. Yes, Angel is very excited. We received our packet in the mail, but not our cruise documents & tags, so I need to look into getting that fixed. Our wish granters are supposed to deliver shirts & buttons, but I haven't heard from them yet to set up when that will be. Do you know when you're supposed to get your packet?

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi
We will be getting our tickets ,package on the 20th and we leave on the 24th. We have a reveal party that day . it is so exciting Samantha and I have been making Minnie mouse snacks ,choc covered pretzels, my older daughter baked minnie cookies and is shipping them to us. I ordered platters and we have 20 people plus the make a wish people coming. It is so exciting.Did you get your cruise documents yet. What ship are you sailing on. 1 week left for you then it will be so great. Cruising is the best. I hope you have great weather
and get to enjoy all of the shows. did they give you brochures in the package.
Did you start to pack yet . We started already so much to bring.

Talk to you soon
Stay well
Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Your party preparations sound so fun. Just realized I won't get to read about your party until we get back *pouts*. Yes, we got the documents yesterday when the wish granters gave us our shirts & stuff. We're on the Dream. Thank you so much I started to pack weeks ago, but didn't make much progress. I'm usually more organized by now, so I'm panicking a bit, but I'm making some progress. In case this week gets crazy & I don't post much - have a wonderful trip! I'm looking forward to reading about the party & the trip.

 

[alisam]

Hi Christi
You and your family as well I hope this trip is everything angel and you family could want. Have a safe trip I will talk to you when we all get back from our trips.

HAPPY SAILING

stay well
Janet

 

[Lilfoot93]

Sorry I have been MIA... I have been terribly behind on so many PTR's... I am trying to catch up

Sounds like a fun reveal party you are planning!! Your trip is getting SO close! I hope you guys have a magical time!!

Jackie

 

[angel's momma]

Hi Christi
You and your family as well I hope this trip is everything angel and you family could want. Have a safe trip I will talk to you when we all get back from our trips.

HAPPY SAILING

stay well
Janet

Thank you Janet

 

[alisam]

Hi Jackie
Welcome back. I was thinking about you the other day. They had all of the star wars characters at gktw. R2d2 was their etc. I know you guys have to be getting excited as well . We are at 2 weeks tomorrow. Samantha is so excited.
Have you been in touch with your volunteers recently . Samantha knows they entertainment coordinator for gktw . They have been face booking back and fourth that is how we saw all of the pictures from star wars. Have you done any other planning for your trip. Samantha's reveal is next Saturday and it is going to be so exciting

Stay well
Janet

 

[Lilfoot93]

That is SO cool they had the SW characters at GKTW! That would be great if they were there during our stay too!!

How exciting that it is almost time for Samantha's wish trip!! That is great she knows the entertainment coordinator and has been talking to her. How was the reveal party? Ours will be the middle of May. We started our countdown calendar for the party (Trev does not know the dates yet as we have been keeping it a secret) and the kids are getting super excited!!

We have done some planning. Part of it is hard to plan when you have never been there! This will be our first vacation as a family. I have been to Disneyland but that was over 10 years ago now. Disney World will be new to all of us!

I can't wait to hear about your trip!! I hope you guys have a magical time!

Jackie

 

[alisam]

Hi Jackie

Samantha's reveal went great. We had 30 people there and it was all Minnie mouse. They had a tour guide for the castle. It was wonderful. For a little while we thought we were going to have to cancel the trip. Sam was in the hospital. She got out on Wednesday 3 days before the reveal. Craziness at its best. We leave on Wednesday and are so excited . I hope Trevors reveal goes well. It is so hard the count down part. Samantha is also going to be able to go to the Worlds . She had to go to her pre op appointment Thursday and one of the cardiac anesthesiologist are going to be there and gave us the name of someone that got tickets for us. How wonderful that was. Tomorrow we do last minute packing and then on our way. I hope when you are down there that GKTW has the characters there again.It will be nice for you to have your first family vacation. I hope it is everything you want and more. I will talk to you when I get back in the mean time stay well
Janet

 

[angel's momma]

Yay for a wonderful reveal. So sorry she was inpatient. Hope you are having a fantastic trip

 

[Lilfoot93]

Yay for a great reveal!! I hope you guys are having a magical time!!! Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

Jackie