Bucket List for Mom w/Stage 4 Cancer-UPDATE #267

[it's kelly]

My thoughts are with your family. As hard as it can be at times, try to think positive.

My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2004 and found her cure elsewhere after a 4 year battle. I can only say to make as many memories as possible and do whatever her wishes are. I know when all is said and done, it doesn't matter who agreed or disagreed with our decisions, we did everything the way my mother wanted it. It wasn't easy and we never knew what each day held.

 

[Planogirl]

I hope that you pull all of this together. The best to you and your Mom.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thank you all SOOOOO much for the prayers, encouragement, vacation advice, & for sharing your beautiful, sad, & inspiring stories. It does my heart good to hear how much complete strangers care.

Like many of you have noted, my Mom is a FIGHTER!!! I just can't explain how inspiring she is! She is fun & funny and will not accept defeat. It would take me 2 pages to explain everything she's gone through in life & also recently in dealing with horrible reactions to her PICC line, then port-a-cath, medications, blown veins, etc....

She started a new clinical trial, Carbo/Ixabepoline (I butchered the spelling!) on Thursday. Her oncologist wants her to hold off on the trip. She said Mom didn't need to miss any treatments. She goes Day 1, Day 8, off 1 week, then the cycle starts over again--up to 2 years. Dr wants us to wait until later, which means it will have to be summer for us. But, we prayed for a clear answer about what to do & I guess we got one!

Anyway, Mom ended up in the ER Friday night with 102.5 fever. Her blood levels & urinalysis came back good. They think it was just a severe reaction to the new chemo. Please pray it won't affect her this way each time (she goes back on Thurs.) I do thank you all for everything. It's still hard to believe how compassionate my fellow DISers are. It must be the mouse, right? Take care & have a great week!

PS--I'll try to figure out where we'll go whale watching & I'll update you with any good news.

 

[mlittig]

weHEARTmickey, your mom sounds like a beautiful person My thoughts and prayers are with you all

 

[mommycrawford]

I've been whale watching in Gloucester, Ma (think Gorton's fisherman)and you are guaranteed to see whales or money back! These are day trips that last a couple of hours.

One time, when it was warm, we saw about 24, and another time when it was colder, we didn't see any in the vicinity they usually go to, so they took us out further, and we saw about 6.

Since time is an issue, I would look up migration patterns for whales in the US and see which states are a reasonable distance and are expected to see them in the time frame that works for you.

It's wonderful that you are fulfilling a dream for her!...Take care of yourself! ...She'll want that.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I don't want to be a downer but I think you should be prepared to throw a trip together at the last minute. That's what we had to do with my mom last fall.

.....I had a longer reply typed out but deleted it. It's still too hard to talk about. The trip we took, just my parents and dh and I, was wonderful in so many ways.

Best wishes to your mom and your family

 

[Princess April]

I just had to put a cheer out there for your mom... GOOOOOOOOO MOM!!!! ..... Kick cancer's butt then, have the time of your life!!!!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Well, I don't know where to start....SO much has happened since my last post! My mom is doing SO much better right now. She had to start back to work Monday, so she wouldn't lose her insurance. She's doing fine, just tired. (She's a pre-k/kindergarten teacher's aide) Her tumor is still shrinking & her liver has basically been functioning AS IF THERE WERE NO CANCER!!!! The oncologists call her their little miracle! She truly is a miracle from God On another personal note, my FIL (DH's dad) passed away in March from a 2 year battle with lung/brain cancer. So my immediate family is taking a much needed Nov trip to WDW.

Anyway, on to our plans....I still have to plan a *summer* trip for Mom's family. We've pretty much decided it HAS to be California...Alaska just can't happen for my siblings. I appreciate all the offers of help, but we would feel so guilty taking ANY $$$ b/c my DH & I can afford our 4, & Mom's school surprised her with $$ they raised for her trip. So, we're mainly concerned about my 2 DBro's & 1 DSis.

So, how does MONTEREY sound for July? Have we just completely missed this opportunity? Any hotel suggestions? I'd rather not stay in a roach motel, but we will have to keep costs down. We definitely want to take at least 1 whale-watching excursion. The Aquarium sounds fun, too...just pricey!

TIA for any help

 

[mdsouth]

I am so happy that your mother is doing great. That is a true blessing from GOD.

I have no advice on the trip for you, but I think you will be happy with a trip to California. I think it sounds like a great option for your family.

I know the DISers here will help you with details for your trip. Have an enjoyable one.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

I am so happy that your mother is doing great. That is a true blessing from GOD.

I have no advice on the trip for you, but I think you will be happy with a trip to California. I think it sounds like a great option for your family.

I know the DISers here will help you with details for your trip. Have an enjoyable one.

Thank you I posted on the California thread, also. Maybe we'll get some hints for the best deals/options. Life just turned upside down for a while there, & I just stopped researching the trip I know we're going to have a great time, whatever we do, & we'll make some awesome memories.

 

[Pembo]

Just found your thread today and wanted to say my friend's mother lived with liver cancer for 10 years. Keep fighting mom and enjoy her bucket list.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Just found your thread today and wanted to say my friend's mother lived with liver cancer for 10 years. Keep fighting mom and enjoy her bucket list.

Thanks for the encouragement Mom's is actually stage 4 breast cancer....in liver, bones, lymph nodes. But she looks & feels GREAT!!! Dr's cannot explain why/how she feels so good. But WE know why/how...it's God's grace through answered prayers!

 

[SunnieRN]

There is SO much to do in CA, Monterey and everywhere in between!! It is absolutely breathtaking!!! I lived in CA all my life, until about 4 years ago. If you have the time, you can get to Yosemite in about three hours or so away from Monterey. It is also gorgeous!

I lost my Mom three years ago this July. She passed 7 days after her "official" diagnosis. I had suspected she had CA for several years. By the time it was discovered "officially" her liver had been so compromised they couldn't even consider chemo.

Prayers to your Mom and your family!! CA is great, even in the summer as there is not the humidity we have in TX. It's a much dryer and considerably more tolerable heat! Be prepared to fall in love with CA!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

California sounds great. My dh took my ds17 there last year, it was atually a business trip and he tagged along. I was recovering from cancer surgery myself. They loved the aquarium. They stayed in Palo Alto and drove there.

They also were in San Francisco and drove around there too. My ds wanted to ride a cable car until he saw that 2 had crashed down the hill!

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[buckler]

I'm so glad to hear your mother is doing well.

July should be good for whale in Monterey Bay. Looks like you would have a chance to see both blue whales and humpback whales.
http://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/

 

[cm8]

Thanks for the encouragement Mom's is actually stage 4 breast cancer....in liver, bones, lymph nodes. But she looks & feels GREAT!!! Dr's cannot explain why/how she feels so good. But WE know why/how...it's God's grace through answered prayers!

::

 

[Leshaface]

So, how does MONTEREY sound for July? Have we just completely missed this opportunity? Any hotel suggestions? I'd rather not stay in a roach motel, but we will have to keep costs down. We definitely want to take at least 1 whale-watching excursion. The Aquarium sounds fun, too...just pricey!

TIA for any help

Monterey is BEAUTIFUL! So is Carmel which is only about a 15 minute drive from Monterey...there are plenty of budget hotels!

I've stayed here http://larkspurhotels.com/collection/casa-munras

It's Casa Munras and it was lovely! If you want pictures of the room i'll be happy to post them for you...was going to see how much it was per night, but not sure of how many people per room, dates, etc...

There are TONS of opportunities for whale watching available through Fisherman's wharf...The aquarium is really neat too if you're able to score some cheap tickets...I can look around...

Also to end one of your evenings really cheap, head to Carmel and have a bonfire with smores, drinks, and just enjoying each others company!

If you need any help, feel free to PM me!!

 

[Canadian Traveler]

You are in my thoughts and prayers and I want to wish you all the best during this difficult time...

 

[MG3G]

My prayers for your mom.

Has your family considered Vancouver or Victoria, BC? Lots of whales this year - actually they had a MASSIVE pod just last week and one huge whale came right into the harbour! The Canadian dollar is a little lower so you will save some money there, there are beautiful sights - lots of things like Eagles, waterfalls - a large vibrant city with excellent medical care (which god willing you won't need) and it is all located just 30 minutes from the Washington State line. If it were me I would fly into either Seattle or Vancouver then take the ferry to Victoria it is a stunning trip! AND reasonable in price!

Blessings

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Well, where to start??? As you know, we've been trying to schedule something for our family AROUND her chemo schedule. Unfortunately, Mom's ANC levels have been so low, that she's not been on her regular schedule. She'll have treatment on Day 1 & then maybe 8, have 1 week off, then it may be 2 or 3 weeks before she's up to having her next treatment! So, she was approved for ANOTHER dosage reduction, which puts her at only 60% of what was prescribed. Dr said if her numbers are too low again, they'll have to change chemo. Please pray with us that her numbers stay high enough, where she won't need to miss treatments. Thank you!

On to whale watching.....because of the costs & scheduling issues, we've decided that it's just going to be MOM & ME in Monterey!! Sad that the others can't come, but I HAVE to make sure she goes! She had other things on her Bucket List, & watching her kids & grandkids snow-ski was one of them. Sooooo, we're all going to book a trip to Colorado or Taos the week after Christmas. This way, everyone has a little more time to save money & it's something that EVERYONE (not just Mom) wants to do.

Now, here's the dilemma: we have to book our trip for late July/early August. We can't afford a nice, luxury suite, but I am NOT staying where we have to enter our rooms from outside, or stay in an unsafe area. Can anyone recommend a safe hotel for 2 women travelers? Thanks, again, for all of your help! Please continue to pray for Mom & our trip!