Ideas to celebrate after cancer cured?

[NH-to-FL]

First, congratulations on the remission and best wishes for the upcoming transplant!

Another cancer survivor here. The anticipation of a WDW visit certainly helped my recovery.

My suggestion is to pick a resort that you have always wanted to go to. Splurge a little bit. Perhaps do a split stay at a couple of resorts. I am a fan of the Boardwalk (or any of the Epcot resorts) for the ability to wander over to the World Showcase in the evenings.

Wishing your DH a smooth and uncomplicated transplant and recovery. And a magical trip to WDW!

 

[brinkley07]

I would pick a deluxe resort and splurge. Although we haven't been I heard the Pirate fireworks cruise is amazing. How about going to a nice meal at the GF, and having a special occasion cake made to celebrate the birthday and/or other holidays missed. Doing the Wishes or any other dessert party if you prefer to be in the parks for the fireworks. I like the idea of celebrating a different holiday each day from a pp. If you want the ultimate splurge and it's within budget for this type of trip you could hire a VIP tour guide.

Our preference would be AKL for atmosphere, food, and the fact it seems a little more quiet. We love Narcoossee's and Yachtsman Steakhouse to name a few. The dessert parties are overpriced now, but we love being in a less crowded location. A few years back we did a special occasion cake and it was wonderful.

Good luck with everything and have a great time planning!

 

[disnut8]

and I love the I'm celebrating button idea. Simple and meaningful/QUOTE]

There are a lot of places you can find locally or online that can create your own pin that reflects your thoughts and can be personalized.

I have my bone marrow on file and have been called once as a potential donor but things didn't match up the way that was needed. You might consider something to call attention for potential donors since it doesn't take a heck of a lot of time to donate and it's something that can be replaced. Something like "Marrow Matters and I'm Proof".

 

[njpyro]

Whole family went for my mom's 1 year cancer free. We all signed up for the 5k. She was able to do it at a walk (still not back to normal or running), but DIsney let's you walk the 5k's (we still finished before a ton a people!). She was so excited to cross the finish line with everyone cheering for her. We also did a nice dinner and celebrating buttons.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Congratulations. I've been cancer free from lymphoma for five years! The month after I finished chemo my husband took me to Switzerland to the Swiss alps balloon festival because I always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon. It was a fabulous trip. Not Disney but we go there so much I wanted something different. Then a few Months later we went to India and Nepal. I have a picture of me with my hair just starting to grow back in a temple with a monk blessing me. Wonderful memories. Once I got over cancer we decided that nothing would stop us from traveling the world. Think about that as you decide on future trips. Theres so much to see and do outside of the US with and without the kids!

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

We had dinner at Coral Reef (EPCOT) after my mother in law recovered from cancer. You can request ahead of time that a diver in the tank hold up a sign for you and that you get a special menu with a message on it. We requested same day and got a wonderful surprise for her when our menus had a message for her and the diver held up a sign!

 

[attain]

Wow! I get home from work and see so many wonderful ideas! To those who are cancer survivors or have a family member who is, my biggest congratulations! The title of "survivor" is a hard battle won! I love so many of your thoughts and can't wait to start making a list! Maybe I can hit lots of them! Cake, Coral Reef menu and diver, deluxe resort, buttons, meals, surprises, longer visit! I also thought about maybe doing a family photo session with a Disney photographer. Would love to renew our vows at Disney...this disease and treatment sure do test a marriage!

 

[TChrist05]

Back in May of 2014 after retiring after working 44 years I got very ill and they had no idea what was wrong. After 5 very long months and almost dying they finally figured it out. Was h ell on me but I feel it was almost tougher for my wife. At my lowest points I went to my happy place which was WDW and DCL. We went after I got well but honestly was probably a little too soon so we spent a lot of time in the room. Go when he feels better--enjoy every minute. God bless your family.

 

[attain]

Back in May of 2014 after retiring after working 44 years I got very ill and they had no idea what was wrong. After 5 very long months and almost dying they finally figured it out. Was h ell on me but I feel it was almost tougher for my wife. At my lowest points I went to my happy place which was WDW and DCL. We went after I got well but honestly was probably a little too soon so we spent a lot of time in the room. Go when he feels better--enjoy every minute. God bless your family.

It means so much to read what you said about the difficulty for your wife. Along with DH who I am his only caregiver, and the kids, We just built and moved into a new home and I have a FT job. I am under so much stress that no one else seems to recognize or care.

The doctor has said that he will be off antirejection meds at 6 months and should be "back at 100%" at 1 year after the transplant (March 2017). So, we are hoping to go in Summer 2017 to give him additional time to feel ready...hopefully! Glad you are doing better and that WDW and DCL were your happy thoughts. DH doesn't want to do a DCL yet; I'm still working on that one!

 

[TChrist05]

With medicine the doctors have the plans and in a great amount of the time things go right. You might have a bunch of ups and downs but you need to be strong both for your husband and for the kids. My wife tried to be a rock and had a few "episodes" during the hardest times and tried her best to shield me when she was having her low days. I had a few of those as well and when I was I was at my worst I did tell God it was OK to take me. He had other plans and I am here to talk about it--although I have learned from my situation. TRUST your doctors and lean on any friends and family that is around to help you carry on. go to the happy places in your mind and maybe they are not all Disney ones.....like your wedding....your kids being born etc. Most of all don't sweat the small stuff--ANYMORE. As I said may god bless you and your family. Him and I had many conversations, especially when I was at my worst. Good thing for me....I am back now and about 80%. God bless--he works wonders!

 

[attain]

Bumping this thread I started over a year ago to give an update and hopefully get more ideas! My husband is now almost 14 months post bone marrow transplant and doing well. He got the OK from the doctor on Monday to go to Disney, so of course we booked a trip in that day! He is still not 100% and has days where he is very tired, so we hope that booking the trip in December will give his body time to get ready. I would really like to make this trip as special as I can (on a budget). I did have them add that we are celebrating DH being cancer free to our reservation notes. We are on the dining plan and we love character meals, so I'm hoping to get CRT when I can book ADRs. I plan to wear celebration buttons as well, as long as DH is okay with it. Any other ideas what we can do? This trip is symbolic for our kids since we told them we would go when Daddy was better and the doctor gave the okay. They will have waited over 2 years and through lots of stress...We all have!

 

[MommaBerd]

What wonderful, joyful news! How about some custom DIY t-shirts? There is a group here on The DIS who volunteer their time and talents to create designs for people. Here is the link to the forum: https://www.disboards.com/forums/creative-disigns.105/

And, you may find some designs on Etsy that are inexpensive. You buy the design and then print on T-shirt transfer paper.

 

[LisafromIndiana]

First, I just want to send HUGE HUGS! Cancer is a demon, and has affected my family way too much, but LIFE is amazing. Do all the things you love on your trip and just love on each other....and may I also suggest Victoria and Albert's? Have a wonderful trip and blessings to you!

 

[glassslippergirl]

Congratulations! Thank you for taking the time to offer an update, too. What a great cause for celebration! I tried to come up with some ideas that your kids would enjoy with their dad and you.

First, this trip calls for some fun indulgence. How about the kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream?

I like PP's idea of a fireworks cruise. During the day, you can also rent a boat at the Contemporary. It's really fun.

Will you be there for a MVMCP?

HDDR makes a big deal about celebrations. Super fun show, too.

Memory Maker-- take lots of pictures of the whole family together.

Surprise Dad with a personalized cake at a lunch or dinner. An occasion like this should be marked with cake!

Teppan Edo is a good place for a celebratory meal.

Can Mom and Dad arrange a special night out? Romantic dinner in World Showcase? In Pandora? (which seems from the pictures like it may be romantic at night)

Candlelight Processional-- keep on top of the narrators as yet are announced over the summer, then arrange to go the night of a particularly inspirational narrator will be on-- one Dad will really love (like Cal Ripken who narrated last year).

Depending on how Dad is doing as you approach the trip, you may want to suggest a scooter-- just for when he needs it. A trip like this is a big endeavor for those in top health. A scooter makes these big days more manageable and can let him keep up with the kids. Just a thought. Renting off site is a lot cheaper.

So happy for your family! Continued blessings to you.

 

[attain]

What wonderful, joyful news! How about some custom DIY t-shirts? There is a group here on The DIS who volunteer their time and talents to create designs for people. Here is the link to the forum: https://www.disboards.com/forums/creative-disigns.105/

And, you may find some designs on Etsy that are inexpensive. You buy the design and then print on T-shirt transfer paper.

I like the shirt idea! Looking at ideas will be something fun to fill the time, too!

First, I just want to send HUGE HUGS! Cancer is a demon, and has affected my family way too much, but LIFE is amazing. Do all the things you love on your trip and just love on each other....and may I also suggest Victoria and Albert's? Have a wonderful trip and blessings to you!

Would love V&A! Our kids will be 8 and 5, so don't know if they would enjoy it. They are still in the chicken nuggets and Mac & cheese tastes. But I'll mention it to DH and see what he thinks.

Congratulations! Thank you for taking the time to offer an update, too. What a great cause for celebration! I tried to come up with some ideas that your kids would enjoy with their dad and you.

First, this trip calls for some fun indulgence. How about the kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream?

I like PP's idea of a fireworks cruise. During the day, you can also rent a boat at the Contemporary. It's really fun.

Will you be there for a MVMCP?

HDDR makes a big deal about celebrations. Super fun show, too.

Memory Maker-- take lots of pictures of the whole family together.

Surprise Dad with a personalized cake at a lunch or dinner. An occasion like this should be marked with cake!

Teppan Edo is a good place for a celebratory meal.

Can Mom and Dad arrange a special night out? Romantic dinner in World Showcase? In Pandora? (which seems from the pictures like it may be romantic at night)

Candlelight Processional-- keep on top of the narrators as yet are announced over the summer, then arrange to go the night of a particularly inspirational narrator will be on-- one Dad will really love (like Cal Ripken who narrated last year).

Depending on how Dad is doing as you approach the trip, you may want to suggest a scooter-- just for when he needs it. A trip like this is a big endeavor for those in top health. A scooter makes these big days more manageable and can let him keep up with the kids. Just a thought. Renting off site is a lot cheaper.

So happy for your family! Continued blessings to you.

Ooooo, the kitchen sink! Yummy! We will be there during MVMCP, but don't know if we can fit the $400 tickets into the budget. At least the parties don't sell out fast so we can take some time to see if it is possible. I know it would be magical for all of us. We did add the memory maker so we can have all the pictures. I'm going to check out the cake thread and see what I can learn. Great idea! And I didn't even think about the Candelight processsional. This will be our first December trip and that would be memorable for sure! We have discussed renting a scooter. We hope we can take some family walks and bike rides to help us all get Disney ready. We don't want DH to miss parts of the trip he could have enjoyed by utilizing a scooter.

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[Sundowner2]

Such wonderful news!!! I am so happy to hear he is doing well.

I echo the idea of the scooter. He's probably going to be worn out from all the walking since he's been through so much. Maybe a scooter rental? And then jazz it up! Signs saying, I'm Kicking Cancers Butt or etc...

 

[NH-to-FL]

My husband is now almost 14 months post bone marrow transplant and doing well.

Wonderful! Great news! Thanks for sharing!

I'll add my vote for renting a scooter based on how things are going in November.

Wishing you a magical trip!

 

[windcriesamy]

Oh my goodness, I'm so happy for you and your family! Kicking cancer's butt is an excellent reason to celebrate with a trip to Disney!

You may want to consider one of the tours? Wild Africa Trek, Behind the Seeds, Keys to the Kingdom, etc.! They vary in price, but you definitely get what you pay for!

 

[kittylady1972]

Everybody here has some great ideas already. I love the idea of a Fireworks or show cruise like Illuminations if you can swing it. It's just something different.

We planned a trip this month back when why MIL was sick and they stopped her treatment for kidney cancer. That was back in the fall...and we figured this would be our time to heal from her death. Little did we know she would still be going strong, my mother (who has been battling cancer for many years) would instead get sick and pass away in February and then *I* would receive my own breast cancer diagnosis last month. So now I'm having surgery for breast cancer on Monday...and we'll leave less than two weeks later for Disney. However I'm totally already planning some other upcoming trips because life is just too short and family time is precious.

 

[attain]

Everybody here has some great ideas already. I love the idea of a Fireworks or show cruise like Illuminations if you can swing it. It's just something different.

We planned a trip this month back when why MIL was sick and they stopped her treatment for kidney cancer. That was back in the fall...and we figured this would be our time to heal from her death. Little did we know she would still be going strong, my mother (who has been battling cancer for many years) would instead get sick and pass away in February and then *I* would receive my own breast cancer diagnosis last month. So now I'm having surgery for breast cancer on Monday...and we'll leave less than two weeks later for Disney. However I'm totally already planning some other upcoming trips because life is just too short and family time is precious.

Oh, wow! You have been through a lot! I wish you the absolute best with your surgery and recovery so you can have a wonderful and memorable trip. Cancer really sucks! Knowing that we would be returning was and still is a light at the end of the tunnel we have continued to move towards. My husband's favorite firework show is Illuminations, so I'll have to look into the cruise! I would love to surprise him with something like that!