Hi Everyone,
I've been a little more out of touch for this cruise than for most but we all become a big extended family through these boards and I wanted to share a story with you.
My DH and I have been Disneyphiles since we were little. He grew up near Anaheim, CA, and shook Walt's hand at
Disneyland during the first few opening weeks in the 50s. I was a committed Mousketeer who raced home from school to watch the lastest installments on TV. We married the year before DW opened and my DH was entering his freshman year in college at the Univ. of Miami. Our weekends were spent camping in Orlando and enjoying the theme parks. We traveled every year with our children to spend a week or two at DW and in 1995 joined the DVC. Every year is some sort of mecca to Disney-something.
In 1996, work relocated us to Tucson, AZ. I grew up actively involved in theatre, worked in Finance and Accounting from the time I was a young teenager. I fell ill just after arriving here and discovered that I had renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). My bad kidney was removed and with the realization that I was being afforded another opportunity, I enrolled in college and graduated with a degree in Theatrical Production, Stage Management. While in college, I decided to apply for the Disney College Program and was priveleged to be chosen, at the age of 45, to become a castmember, first at DAK, then as a Studios Entertainment Management Intern. What a great experience. I was a 45 year old college kid at Disney World!
I now manage a non-profit live performance theatre in Tucson. 5-1/2 years ago, my cancer returned in another body part. Another surgery took care of that and I continue my mission of creating great community performances for our talented artists while believing that I am somewhat of a research project for the oncology doctors.
The desert has a funny illness called Valley Fever. It's a nasty fungus and sometimes hard to detect because it acts like a cold or flu. I contracted it last spring but it took months to determine what the illness was. Overall, I battled it for about 7 months. In the process of testing, it was discovered that my cancer had returned to my only functioning kidney - pretty serious stuff. The doctor told me in August that I would have my kidney removed and be on dialysis three days a week for the rest of my life. I said to him, "Can I get on a cruise ship with a dialysis machine because I have a
Disney Cruise planned in December?" He said it wasn't possible for me to go so I told him that I knew there were other treatments since I'd begun dealing with this more than twelve years ago and he'd have to find another way.
My doctor then said that he was willing to try cryoablation, a method where the tumors are frozen and removed, the healthy portion of kidney stitched up and - business as usual after recovery. He said I'd have to modify some things in my life style but we wouldn't have to look at more extreme measures for quite a while, if at all.
So last Wed., I had my surgery and will be ready to dance on December 12th! Meet me in the disco that night to bust a move and celebrate life, purpose, modern technology, positive thinking and steady hands of surgeons!
I look forward to making new friends with all of you!!
But it's all so much fun!!!
And, if they happened to show Toy Story 3, my kids would be OVER THE MOON!
!!! No more uterine cancer for me!! My last pathology came back clear, I feel better, so what am I going to do now? Take a 
I am so excited!! Plus, I really needed a break!! LOL 
Reading the threads, two outside companies rise to the top for Grand Cayman island tours and Stingray snorkeling. They are Captain Marvin's and Native Way; they both have their own web sites. Both receive great reviews.
