Make a Wish (and other organizations) ~ Wish Trippers UNITE! Volume FOUR!

[twinmum]

Mary: Thank you so much for the detailed update on Lauren and the potential surgery. I will definitely keep all of you in my prayers. You are so right in your hope that they will find peace with whatever decision is made.

I've said this before, but I'll repeat: Lauren and her family are so fortunate to have you in their lives - for your professional skills, of course...but also for your steadfast support and concern for them. This can be a lonely parenting journey, and knowing that they have you in their inner circle must be uplifting.

I wish for you and Lauren (and the rest of your party) a safe and fun-filled trip with many, many happy memories. I'll be in touch about your planning!

Alison

 

[maroo]

Just wanted to say that I will be praying and will have her added to our prayer list at church. This is the least I can do for all you have done for me and for all of us. I will be watching for the caringbridge in your siggie. I know it has helped me greatly.

THank you so very much!!!!! That will be a huge blessing for Lauren - to have bunches of people praying!

We really noticed a huge difference for Lauren when we compared two surgeries she had -

One was relatively minor - and we didn't really tell many people she was even having it. She had all kinds of complications and really didn't do well - obviously she recovered fine, though.

Then the next one was her big rod surgery. We had a lot of prayer support for that one - she had just had a big concert at church with all of her friends from her youth choir and they really supported all of us. She had a major complication after the surgery that could have killed her - her platelet count went to 5. Which is incredibly low - especially when you are still bleeding from surgery! But she bounced right back. Her ICU doctor was visibly amazed when he came to check on her the next morning and she was awake and telling jokes.

No--not a firearm!--although I could see how that would be problematic for those individuals requiring one--I was thinking more of passports. We're Canadian, so we'd need to bring our passports with us, but we don't like to carry them on us if we can avoid it.

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look for the EMH post, for sure!

Uh...I forgot to write the EMH post.

But I will try to do it today between stupid meetings. lol (I don't mind meetings that are useful...just the dumb ones. )

 

[maroo]

Mary: Thank you so much for the detailed update on Lauren and the potential surgery. I will definitely keep all of you in my prayers. You are so right in your hope that they will find peace with whatever decision is made.

I've said this before, but I'll repeat: Lauren and her family are so fortunate to have you in their lives - for your professional skills, of course...but also for your steadfast support and concern for them. This can be a lonely parenting journey, and knowing that they have you in their inner circle must be uplifting.

I wish for you and Lauren (and the rest of your party) a safe and fun-filled trip with many, many happy memories. I'll be in touch about your planning!

Alison

Did I ever send you a PM??

Lauren definitely wants to meet up with you guys...so I need to make sure you have my number.

 

[jj0plin]

Those of you that are Facebook Fans of Give Kids the World may have already seen this today but for those that have not, here is an article from the International Association of Amusement Parks highlighting 25 years of Give Kids the World. It includes a very touching story http://www.iaapa.org/industry/funworld/2011/mar/features/gktw25/index.asp

 

[Mom2Miracles]

We really noticed a huge difference for Lauren when we compared two surgeries she had -

One was relatively minor - and we didn't really tell many people she was even having it. She had all kinds of complications and really didn't do well - obviously she recovered fine, though.

Then the next one was her big rod surgery. We had a lot of prayer support for that one - she had just had a big concert at church with all of her friends from her youth choir and they really supported all of us. She had a major complication after the surgery that could have killed her - her platelet count went to 5. Which is incredibly low - especially when you are still bleeding from surgery! But she bounced right back. Her ICU doctor was visibly amazed when he came to check on her the next morning and she was awake and telling jokes.

Lauren is incredibly lucky to have such amazing people in her corner, fighting for her every step of the way. She is so lucky to have you, just as you are so lucky to have her. I'm sure she alone, has changed you more then you could ever know. You are an incredible woman. Lauren, and everyone surrounding her, is in my thoughts while they forge through this next journey she is facing.

Those of you that are Facebook Fans of Give Kids the World may have already seen this today but for those that have not, here is an article from the International Association of Amusement Parks highlighting 25 years of Give Kids the World. It includes a very touching story http://www.iaapa.org/industry/funworld/2011/mar/features/gktw25/index.asp

I am so emotional these days, that story brought me to tears. Beautiful and so touching.

 

[jj0plin]

I am so emotional these days, that story brought me to tears. Beautiful and so touching.

me too!!!! It didn't help that the little girl had kidney cancer, which is also what my son had!

 

[jj0plin]

We received another Big Give!! Please come check it out!

 

[brookerene]

Well, what a great day to receive gifts...snow is piling up and it's cold! Along with some Big Give boxes there was a postcard from the WWoHP! So until we can open the boxes we have a great postcard to enjoy! Here are a few photos!

 

[Mom2mitokids]

I posted some picture of our Walk for Wishes and Korissa's going away celebration.

 

[mom2pixies]

Those of you that are Facebook Fans of Give Kids the World may have already seen this today but for those that have not, here is an article from the International Association of Amusement Parks highlighting 25 years of Give Kids the World. It includes a very touching story http://www.iaapa.org/industry/funworld/2011/mar/features/gktw25/index.asp

Wow. Tears once again! That hit close to home--my daughter is 3.5 now and she was a Stage 4 Wilms. The tumour was too big on her right kidney, so the whole organ was removed and she had a lesion on her lung, but luckily, chemo did the trick--it disappeared! She's my own little bald princess now!

That photo of young Princess Alyssa reminds me so much of Brooke!

 

[jj0plin]

Wow. Tears once again! That hit close to home--my daughter is 3.5 now and she was a Stage 4 Wilms. The tumour was too big on her right kidney, so the whole organ was removed and she had a lesion on her lung, but luckily, chemo did the trick--it disappeared! She's my own little bald princess now!

That photo of young Princess Alyssa reminds me so much of Brooke!

Wow, my son (almost 3) was a stage 3 Wilms but it did not spread anywhere else. His tumor was football sized and he lost his right kidney too. Did your daughter go through radiation too? Do you have a caringbridge page?

 

[mom2pixies]

Wow, my son (almost 3) was a stage 3 Wilms but it did not spread anywhere else. His tumor was football sized and he lost his right kidney too. Did your daughter go through radiation too? Do you have a caringbridge page?

Brooke's was the size of a softball. No, she did not have any radiation (thank God!). Yours? I'm not certain what a caringbridge page is, but no, just a blog (http://gingersnaphappy.blogspot.com/) that I had started as a way of chronicling my maternity leave for #2 (Brooke's little sister, Avery), which quickly became my 'journey into cancerhood' blog!

You are welcome (and so are any other DIS members) to have a peek at the blog, if you'd like. I do intent on starting a PTR with our whole story, but I'm just waiting until she is approved for the wish before I start going and getting ahead of myself....

Too late, isn't it? LOL!!

 

[jj0plin]

Brooke's was the size of a softball. No, she did not have any radiation (thank God!). Yours? I'm not certain what a caringbridge page is, but no, just a blog (http://gingersnaphappy.blogspot.com/) that I had started as a way of chronicling my maternity leave for #2 (Brooke's little sister, Avery), which quickly became my 'journey into cancerhood' blog!

You are welcome (and so are any other DIS members) to have a peek at the blog, if you'd like. I do intent on starting a PTR with our whole story, but I'm just waiting until she is approved for the wish before I start going and getting ahead of myself....

Too late, isn't it? LOL!!

LOL I started my PTR before he was approved because I couldn't help myself! Elliot had 6 rounds of radiation. Here is Elliot's Caringbridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliot_rylan. Warning: the tumor pictures are posted there!

 

[jj0plin]

2) Do the GTKW villas come equipped with personal safes or are there safes at Reception to rent? (Just thinking of where to keep valuables--passports, travel docs, meds, etc.) I can't imagine anyone working or visiting GTKW swiping these things, but--call me paranoid, especially after hearing a crazy story from my friend about how she and her husband were scammed out of money when they tried helping someone last weekend--I'd rather be safe than sorry!

I found a copy of the Village Guide online (given to you at check-in)... in it, it states that Safe Deposit Boxes are available upon request.

 

[mom2pixies]

LOL I started my PTR before he was approved because I couldn't help myself! Elliot had 6 rounds of radiation. Here is Elliot's Caringbridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliot_rylan. Warning: the tumor pictures are posted there!

Six rounds of radiation? Wow. It's just brutal what all of these kids have already had to face in their short lives....but, they are so resilient! They don't complain, they don't worry--they just accept and move on. Truly amazing.

 

[mom2pixies]

I found a copy of the Village Guide online (given to you at check-in)... in it, it states that Safe Deposit Boxes are available upon request.

Awesome! Thanks for the info! I will definitely keep that in mind when (if?) our turn comes up.

 

[mom2pixies]

Another question for the general Wishtrippers public.

I understand how the park hopper allows the wish family to jump from park to park for a period of 3 days--but do the days have to be used consecutively for three days or can you break the days up. For example, can you schedule Monday--MK, then Tuesday--Sea World, then Wednesday--Epcot, then Thursday--Universal Studios, Friday--AK and HS or what have you?

I'm seeing lots of suggestions to break up longer days with shorter days in between, which totally make sense. But, then I'm also seeing some comments that US and SeaWorld parks are considered shorter days than the WDW parks. And, I'm just thinking that three solid days of long WDW parks could completely wipe out the little ones!

 

[tinytreasures]

Another question for the general Wishtrippers public.

I understand how the park hopper allows the wish family to jump from park to park for a period of 3 days--but do the days have to be used consecutively for three days or can you break the days up. For example, can you schedule Monday--MK, then Tuesday--Sea World, then Wednesday--Epcot, then Thursday--Universal Studios, Friday--AK and HS or what have you?

I'm seeing lots of suggestions to break up longer days with shorter days in between, which totally make sense. But, then I'm also seeing some comments that US and SeaWorld parks are considered shorter days than the WDW parks. And, I'm just thinking that three solid days of long WDW parks could completely wipe out the little ones!

You don't have to use them 3 days in a row. I think they are good for 10 days after the first day you go but don't quote me


I finally have a update.
Avy's trip was Approved today. Now we know we are really going to Disney world
I updated her thread.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I understand how the park hopper allows the wish family to jump from park to park for a period of 3 days--but do the days have to be used consecutively for three days or can you break the days up. For example, can you schedule Monday--MK, then Tuesday--Sea World, then Wednesday--Epcot, then Thursday--Universal Studios, Friday--AK and HS or what have you?

The Disney tickets are able to be used for up to 14 days from date of first use and do not have to be used on consecutive days. If the first day of use is a Sunday, the last allowable day would be the second Saturday following.

 

[mom2pixies]

The Disney tickets are able to be used for up to 14 days from date of first use and do not have to be used on consecutive days. If the first day of use is a Sunday, the last allowable day would be the second Saturday following.

Great! That's what I was hoping for. Thanks for the info!