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

[maroo]

Hi everybody!!

I just started Trace's PTR here:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=40244930#post40244930

Really looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Trace was diagnosed with Cystic Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Right Parotid Gland on August 5, 2010 at the age of 11. We went to MD Anderson in Houston, TX for treatment as this is a cancer most often found in middle aged women. He has had 2 surgeries to remove the tumor, gland and 19 lymph nodes down his neck and is now considered cancer free. Since the tumor was cut into with the 1st surgery, he has scans and lab work every 3 months to check for reoccurrence from any little cell that decided to "swim" away and attached nearby. So far, so good. First post-op scan was Feb 23rd and was all clear. He gets major "scanxiety" with nightmares, tummy upset and agitation.

Trace was granted a wish with MAW in January and we are tentatively scheduled for mid June...waiting for confirmation. His official wish was to stay at Animal Kingdom lodge so he could watch the animals from his room, but MAW said that it was a separate wish and would be a shorter stay and that if he would consider staying at GKTW, they would try to arrange for him to do the Behind the Scenes/Safari Tour which is only open to 16 and older. So really hoping they can pull that off...he would LOVE it. He really enjoys zoos and animals and would visit the Houston Zoo every time we went for checkups if we agreed.

He REALLY wanted his older sister, who is 22 to be able to go with us, but that was a no-go with MAW. It's not his fault I decided to have my kids 5 yrs apart!! So, we are making arrangements for her to fly over when she can to meet up with us and we will stay a few days more with her and then come home together.

On a side note.... I saw a plea on facebook for volunteers for the Louisiana chapter of MAW, so hubby and I signed up to be wish granters. We went for training and are no officially wish granters for our area of the state. So excited to help make dreams come true...but also so saddened that there are so many children that are eligible. Outta be a law against cancer!!!

to the wish trippers thread!!

I will link your pre-trip on our first page for ya!

Sometimes more of a local drug store will carry them (not a chain store). Also, you can try calling the hospital where you got the cast. I know our hospital (duPont Hospital for Children) carries them from time to time. I think everyone who gets a cast should get one!! I mean COME ON!!!!!!!

seriously! You would think!

Did anyone ever hit a depression after your child's wish trip? I feel like I have been on such a high for so long, that now I am in a severe low. I keep looking at pictures and waiting for our cd from gktw (since I have misplaced the one they gave me) and they are mailing me a new one I am hoping that once I start my tr after I get all my cd's coming that that itself will help the low I am in.

There are a lot of people here on the DIS (typical families) that call this Post Disney Depression - you may even see it referred to as PDD - it is so common that it has a name.

And I have named Post Wish Trip Disney Depression (PWTDD), too. Which I think is worse than PDD - since the wish trip is just that much more of a "high"...

It is TOTALLY normal to feel this way. I think Bill Lin explained it very well in his response, too.

The only thing I can suggest for those families that are just returning or going on trips soon is to plan something for when you get back - something to look forward to.

This can be as simple (and hopefully cheap) as planning a "party" and inviting friends and family to your home (or your favorite restaurant dutch treat) and show them the pictures and tell them the story of your trip. I have heard of one MAW chapter doing this instead of a send off party and I think that is such a great idea!

(For any National MAW reps reading this, I hear you guys lurk occasionally - This is such a good idea for two reasons - it helps the families have something fun to come home to - but it also raises awareness of what MAW does for these families, which is a great fundraising tool/awareness tool for MAW - a great idea indeed!!)

I am so sorry for you feeling this way, though!

I am sure coming back on this thread is a little hard, too...because most of the families are planning and in that excited stage - which makes it hard, too. I am glad you posted here! Please keep posting here and keep us updated on how you are doing.

Welcome! I am from Louisiana too, which part are you from? I talked to Maria about organizing volunteer training up here in the north part, but have not gotten it done yet. My fault-not hers. I am going on a wish trip this month, I am the nurse!

That is so cool! I was the nurse on Lauren's trip in 2008! It was fun! (Hard work, too - but very worth it!!)

 

[Mom2mitokids]

Thanks for the info, but I have to say that if her hearing doesn't come back soon (like tomorrow) she is going to hurt someone. She walked around all night with her head tilted to one side and kept saying her hear was stupid.

I do know the feeling she is going through. I had 4 perforated ear drums and the sound isn't pleasent, but it does take time for the ear drum to heal.

 

[blessedmom4]

seriously! You would think!
It would be nice if you broke a bone if they would provide it with the cost of the cast. Sadly, for us after paying for the 2 night hospital stay, ER, OR, doctors, follow-ups, brace, etc...there wasn't an extra $30 to $50 to spare for a "luxury" item...Bread bags were the best I could do


There are a lot of people here on the DIS (typical families) that call this Post Disney Depression - you may even see it referred to as PDD - it is so common that it has a name.

And I have named Post Wish Trip Disney Depression (PWTDD), too. Which I think is worse than PDD - since the wish trip is just that much more of a "high"...

It is TOTALLY normal to feel this way. I think Bill Lin explained it very well in his response, too.

The only thing I can suggest for those families that are just returning or going on trips soon is to plan something for when you get back - something to look forward to.

This can be as simple (and hopefully cheap) as planning a "party" and inviting friends and family to your home (or your favorite restaurant dutch treat) and show them the pictures and tell them the story of your trip. I have heard of one MAW chapter doing this instead of a send off party and I think that is such a great idea!

(For any National MAW reps reading this, I hear you guys lurk occasionally - This is such a good idea for two reasons - it helps the families have something fun to come home to - but it also raises awareness of what MAW does for these families, which is a great fundraising tool/awareness tool for MAW - a great idea indeed!!)

I am so sorry for you feeling this way, though!

I am sure coming back on this thread is a little hard, too...because most of the families are planning and in that excited stage - which makes it hard, too. I am glad you posted here! Please keep posting here and keep us updated on how you are doing.
)

I think that is one of my biggest "fears" the after it is over let down... Especially after planning for this so long!

Maroo, you are leaving VERY soon!!! Do you have any thoughts on siblings being able to go on Wish Trips after age 18? Any experience from other Wish Trippers? Have I asked you that before? If so, forgive me!! I am a foggy head from a cold....

And Loodlow...I think you told me once before you were going as the nurse on a trip...or maybe I really am brain dead today...it is possible...

Now I am off to ballet and YES I can drive.... I just can't rememebr things today...

 

[maroo]

I think that is one of my biggest "fears" the after it is over let down... Especially after planning for this so long!

Maroo, you are leaving VERY soon!!! Do you have any thoughts on siblings being able to go on Wish Trips after age 18? Any experience from other Wish Trippers? Have I asked you that before? If so, forgive me!! I am a foggy head from a cold....

And Loodlow...I think you told me once before you were going as the nurse on a trip...or maybe I really am brain dead today...it is possible...

Now I am off to ballet and YES I can drive.... I just can't rememebr things today...

Aw...regarding the "let down"...

There are two real cautions I would give as far as "let down" goes...

When we write trip reports (mine included), we tend to sort of leave out the "down" times - we might write about something funny and bad, but generally we leave out the big fight we had with our family or the one day full of rain or the line was just super long...So you guys read all of our trip reports which are full of sunshine and happiness and as you plan you read over and over all the happy moments of all the trips...

And for me, eventually those major happy moments all blend together into this expectation that this trip is going to be over the top, totally awesome. When I think about the trip, I imagine blue skies, lots of pixie dust (afterall, look at the possible pixie dust out there!)...

And then the trip comes (and this has happened with every single trip I have been on in the past two years)...after all the excitement of getting there...it rains, or we get in a fight over something silly (which we laugh about later), or we run into a rare CM that is having a bad day and says something not so magical to us, or our plans fall through for an ADR we were hoping for...something is going to happen on every trip that is a down moment. And our expectations are so high...

Then consider that it is a WISH trip - and your expectations go over the moon! And it is just harder to meet high expectations...

The planning part is SOOOO much fun! And the anticipation is so fun! And the trip IS going to be fun! Even if it rains - or whatever...It won't be perfect, but it will be fun!

The second thing I would say is to try to plan something for after you get back...a mini trip to somewhere nice, a camping trip, a special night out for the family, a Disney movie night - anything to look forward to! Because it is a let down to come back from any Disney trip - even more for a wish trip - and even more if you are coming back to the "real" world, which for lots of us contains enough worries...

Anyway...I don't really know why I am saying all of that...just to say, I guess, to sort of try to talk myself into having reasonable expectations for my trip. Which I already imagine is going to be worry free and certainly sunny the WHOLE time.


As far as the above 18 issue...

My guess is that it is a liability issue...Parent's can sign off for their own children to go on a trip with them...so they can do a release for their kids absolving MAW of any responsibility on the trip - but I guess they can't sign for their children that are 18? above 18? I don't know the law... But my guess is that it provides some extra liability to have a 3rd adult (even if it is a sibling) join the trip...

I am sure every chapter is different. And it may have something to do with who is living in the home vs. not?

Of course, I think it would be great for all siblings to go on all the trips for sure! But I can see where MAW might have some liability issues with it??

But...I am no lawyer...not even close...so take that all with a grain of salt.

 

[maroo]

I sure am chatty today.


Here are TWO new TR's for us to join in on and post!!

Pre-Trip Reports, technically.


Tonyababyrn (Trace) Wish Trip! Dates TBA! MAW/????

chelleydi77 (Madison) Wish Trip! Dates TBA! (July/Aug?) MAW/CRUISE - Disney Dream!

Let's give them both a warm Wish Trippers

 

[MitoDadMO]

Just got a call from Kade's wish grantor. They are coming out tonight to bring our packet! FINALLY!!

 

[mom2pixies]

Hello folks!

Just a general question for any wishtrippers who may have already been to the character dining option (Breakfast with Elmo and Friends) at SeaWorld or have heard about it from another guest . I was thinking that my littlest one (who is always fascinated by those crazy puppets!) might get a kick out of meeting some of the Sesame Street characters--so has anyone been to the SeaWorld character breakfast?

Thoughts about it? Worth the money? What characters were there? (Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Grover, etc.--or just the main ones: Elmo, Bert, Ernie and Big Bird?) What was the quality of the interaction? And, do those characters regularly wander the park for meet 'n greets?

Just curious! Thanks for any and all input.

 

[xanphylus]

Hey guys! I don't know if I am allowed to post this on here or not, but I am doing a card shower for a little boy named Caden. He is 7 years old and has been sent home for hospice care as of this week. They are giving him 2-4 weeks. They thought he was in remission from his leukemia, but it came back quickly. He loves to get mail and he would love it if some people here would send him some happy mail. He loves Sponge Bob and is a typical little boy. If anyone would like to send him a card feel free to pm me and please pray for him and his whole family. Thanks.

 

[mommy2girlswv]

Hello folks!

Just a general question for any wishtrippers who may have already been to the character dining option (Breakfast with Elmo and Friends) at SeaWorld or have heard about it from another guest . I was thinking that my littlest one (who is always fascinated by those crazy puppets!) might get a kick out of meeting some of the Sesame Street characters--so has anyone been to the SeaWorld character breakfast?

Thoughts about it? Worth the money? What characters were there? (Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Grover, etc.--or just the main ones: Elmo, Bert, Ernie and Big Bird?) What was the quality of the interaction? And, do those characters regularly wander the park for meet 'n greets?

Just curious! Thanks for any and all input.

I don't much about Sea world, but we made ADR for Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood studios and it breakfast with disney jr characters.

 

[kailatilear]

Aw...regarding the "let down"...

There are two real cautions I would give as far as "let down" goes...

When we write trip reports (mine included), we tend to sort of leave out the "down" times - we might write about something funny and bad, but generally we leave out the big fight we had with our family or the one day full of rain or the line was just super long...So you guys read all of our trip reports which are full of sunshine and happiness and as you plan you read over and over all the happy moments of all the trips...

And for me, eventually those major happy moments all blend together into this expectation that this trip is going to be over the top, totally awesome. And then the trip comes (and this has happened with every single trip I have been on in the past two years)...after all the excitement of getting there...it rains, or we get in a fight over something silly (which we laugh about later), or we run into a rare CM that is having a bad day and says something not so magical to us, or our plans fall through for an ADR we were hoping for...something is going to happen on every trip that is a down moment. And our expectations are so high...


Then consider that it is a WISH trip - and your expectations go over the moon! And it is just harder to meet high expectations...


The planning part is SOOOO much fun! And the anticipation is so fun! And the trip IS going to be fun! Even if it rains - or whatever...It won't be perfect, but it will be fun!


The second thing I would say is to try to plan something for after you get back...a mini trip to somewhere nice, a camping trip, a special night out for the family, a Disney movie night - anything to look forward to! Because it is a let down to come back from any Disney trip - even more for a wish trip - and even more if you are coming back to the "real" world, which for lots of us contains enough worries...

Anyway...I don't really know why I am saying all of that...just to say, I guess, to sort of try to talk myself into having reasonable expectations for my trip. Which I already imagine is going to be worry free and certainly sunny the WHOLE time.

When I think about the trip, I imagine blue skies, lots of pixie dust (afterall, look at the possible pixie dust out there!)...

Yes, it is pretty much how we imagine it

When we write trip reports (mine included), we tend to sort of leave out the "down" times - we might write about something funny and bad, but generally we leave out the big fight we had with our family or the one day full of rain or the line was just super long...So you guys read all of our trip reports which are full of sunshine and happiness and as you plan you read over and over all the happy moments of all the trips...

The planning part is SOOOO much fun! And the anticipation is so fun! And the trip IS going to be fun! Even if it rains - or whatever...It won't be perfect, but it will be fun!

Everything you said here was so very true

The second thing I would say is to try to plan something for after you get back...a mini trip to somewhere nice, a camping trip, a special night out for the family, a Disney movie night - anything to look forward to! Because it is a let down to come back from any Disney trip - even more for a wish trip - and even more if you are coming back to the "real" world, which for lots of us contains enough worries...

I wish we would have done that, might have to do something this weekend.

 

[kailatilear]

Just got a call from Kade's wish grantor. They are coming out tonight to bring our packet! FINALLY!!

YEAH!!!!!

 

[kailatilear]

I don't much about Sea world, but we made ADR for Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood studios and it breakfast with disney jr characters.

I don't remember seeing anything like that at Sea World when we went 2 weeks ago. Mabye call them and ask.

 

[MitoDadMO]

Wish grantors have been here, we have our packet, flight confirmations, and expense check. WE ARE READY!!! Thanks for all the help planning and pixie dust from the big give! Words cannot explain how it has made Annette, the boys and I feel. You ALL are wonderful!

 

[mom2pixies]

I don't remember seeing anything like that at Sea World when we went 2 weeks ago. Mabye call them and ask.

It's weird--you can't seem to find anything directly stating that they have these character meals on their website, but yet their website does have photos of the Sesame Street characters at their shows and dining experiences. (Maybe it has been discontinued or the website needs updating? Or maybe they are special events only offered seasonally?) Here are some links that I found referencing these meals:

http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=541

http://orlando.about.com/od/seaworld/a/sw_december.htm

http://orlando.about.com/cs/holidays/a/sw_halloween.htm

http://www.orlandofuntickets.com/Blog/2009/10/sesame-street-character-breakfasts-at.html

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/swdin.html

http://goflorida.about.com/od/orlandodining/qt/sw_dining.htm

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d582123-r34760119-Seafire_Inn-Orlando_Florida.html

 

[jj0plin]

We saw the Sesame Street show while we were there last year and it was cute! I know nothing about dining though.

 

[my2girlsrock]

Hey guys! I don't know if I am allowed to post this on here or not, but I am doing a card shower for a little boy named Caden. He is 7 years old and has been sent home for hospice care as of this week. They are giving him 2-4 weeks. They thought he was in remission from his leukemia, but it came back quickly. He loves to get mail and he would love it if some people here would send him some happy mail. He loves Sponge Bob and is a typical little boy. If anyone would like to send him a card feel free to pm me and please pray for him and his whole family. Thanks.

I am going to PM you.... that is just heartbreaking.....

Wish grantors have been here, we have our packet, flight confirmations, and expense check. WE ARE READY!!! Thanks for all the help planning and pixie dust from the big give! Words cannot explain how it has made Annette, the boys and I feel. You ALL are wonderful!

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[blessedmom4]

Hey guys! I don't know if I am allowed to post this on here or not, but I am doing a card shower for a little boy named Caden. He is 7 years old and has been sent home for hospice care as of this week. They are giving him 2-4 weeks. They thought he was in remission from his leukemia, but it came back quickly. He loves to get mail and he would love it if some people here would send him some happy mail. He loves Sponge Bob and is a typical little boy. If anyone would like to send him a card feel free to pm me and please pray for him and his whole family. Thanks.

I hope you got my PM.

 

[blessedmom4]

Aw...regarding the "let down"...

There are two real cautions I would give as far as "let down" goes...

When we write trip reports (mine included), we tend to sort of leave out the "down" times - we might write about something funny and bad, but generally we leave out the big fight we had with our family or the one day full of rain or the line was just super long...So you guys read all of our trip reports which are full of sunshine and happiness and as you plan you read over and over all the happy moments of all the trips...

And for me, eventually those major happy moments all blend together into this expectation that this trip is going to be over the top, totally awesome. When I think about the trip, I imagine blue skies, lots of pixie dust (afterall, look at the possible pixie dust out there!)...

And then the trip comes (and this has happened with every single trip I have been on in the past two years)...after all the excitement of getting there...it rains, or we get in a fight over something silly (which we laugh about later), or we run into a rare CM that is having a bad day and says something not so magical to us, or our plans fall through for an ADR we were hoping for...something is going to happen on every trip that is a down moment. And our expectations are so high...

Then consider that it is a WISH trip - and your expectations go over the moon! And it is just harder to meet high expectations...

The planning part is SOOOO much fun! And the anticipation is so fun! And the trip IS going to be fun! Even if it rains - or whatever...It won't be perfect, but it will be fun!

The second thing I would say is to try to plan something for after you get back...a mini trip to somewhere nice, a camping trip, a special night out for the family, a Disney movie night - anything to look forward to! Because it is a let down to come back from any Disney trip - even more for a wish trip - and even more if you are coming back to the "real" world, which for lots of us contains enough worries...

Anyway...I don't really know why I am saying all of that...just to say, I guess, to sort of try to talk myself into having reasonable expectations for my trip. Which I already imagine is going to be worry free and certainly sunny the WHOLE time.


As far as the above 18 issue...

My guess is that it is a liability issue...Parent's can sign off for their own children to go on a trip with them...so they can do a release for their kids absolving MAW of any responsibility on the trip - but I guess they can't sign for their children that are 18? above 18? I don't know the law... But my guess is that it provides some extra liability to have a 3rd adult (even if it is a sibling) join the trip...

I am sure every chapter is different. And it may have something to do with who is living in the home vs. not?

Of course, I think it would be great for all siblings to go on all the trips for sure! But I can see where MAW might have some liability issues with it??

But...I am no lawyer...not even close...so take that all with a grain of salt.

I tell you this cold really has me Your response reminded me about our Wish Granter telling me that Christian would have to sign the paperwork himself, because he was over 18! We spoke to them originally LAST MAY (Have I really been planning/waiting this long. ) THANK YOU for always being there for me, you have answered SO many questions for me over the past year.

I hope your upcoming trip is spectacular and you have very few bumps in the road. Your description of Disney trips made me think of childbirth (Remember, I have the cold and I also can't seem to type without typos...) No matter the problems or pains getting to the delivery, all we seem to remember afterwards is sunshine, roses and sweet smelling baby's, the rest gets lost in "Baby Amnesia" sort of like "Disney Amnesia"...okay, I am done, I know that is lame, can't help myself tonight so I am going over to my own little thread to hibernate. THANK YOU again!

 

[maroo]

Just got a call from Kade's wish grantor. They are coming out tonight to bring our packet! FINALLY!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

Hello folks!

Just a general question for any wishtrippers who may have already been to the character dining option (Breakfast with Elmo and Friends) at SeaWorld or have heard about it from another guest . I was thinking that my littlest one (who is always fascinated by those crazy puppets!) might get a kick out of meeting some of the Sesame Street characters--so has anyone been to the SeaWorld character breakfast?

Thoughts about it? Worth the money? What characters were there? (Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Grover, etc.--or just the main ones: Elmo, Bert, Ernie and Big Bird?) What was the quality of the interaction? And, do those characters regularly wander the park for meet 'n greets?

Just curious! Thanks for any and all input.

Oh gosh! I have no idea!!

I know someone on here knows...but not sure if she is following this thread or not....... livndisney - you out there?

Hey guys! I don't know if I am allowed to post this on here or not, but I am doing a card shower for a little boy named Caden. He is 7 years old and has been sent home for hospice care as of this week. They are giving him 2-4 weeks. They thought he was in remission from his leukemia, but it came back quickly. He loves to get mail and he would love it if some people here would send him some happy mail. He loves Sponge Bob and is a typical little boy. If anyone would like to send him a card feel free to pm me and please pray for him and his whole family. Thanks.

Of course you can post that!

Will you please PM me his address?? I will get William to send him a card. That is just horrifying.

It's weird--you can't seem to find anything directly stating that they have these character meals on their website, but yet their website does have photos of the Sesame Street characters at their shows and dining experiences. (Maybe it has been discontinued or the website needs updating? Or maybe they are special events only offered seasonally?) Here are some links that I found referencing these meals:

http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=541

http://orlando.about.com/od/seaworld/a/sw_december.htm

http://orlando.about.com/cs/holidays/a/sw_halloween.htm

http://www.orlandofuntickets.com/Blog/2009/10/sesame-street-character-breakfasts-at.html

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/swdin.html

http://goflorida.about.com/od/orlandodining/qt/sw_dining.htm

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d582123-r34760119-Seafire_Inn-Orlando_Florida.html

Hmm...those look like good links, though!

I tell you this cold really has me Your response reminded me about our Wish Granter telling me that Christian would have to sign the paperwork himself, because he was over 18! We spoke to them originally LAST MAY (Have I really been planning/waiting this long. ) THANK YOU for always being there for me, you have answered SO many questions for me over the past year.

I hope your upcoming trip is spectacular and you have very few bumps in the road. Your description of Disney trips made me think of childbirth (Remember, I have the cold and I also can't seem to type without typos...) No matter the problems or pains getting to the delivery, all we seem to remember afterwards is sunshine, roses and sweet smelling baby's, the rest gets lost in "Baby Amnesia" sort of like "Disney Amnesia"...okay, I am done, I know that is lame, can't help myself tonight so I am going over to my own little thread to hibernate. THANK YOU again!

Oh no!! Please don't worry!!! If you wish granters have said he can go - then it should be a done deal! The ones that don't pretty much tell the families ahead of time! No worries.

So glad I have helped!

I can see how it would relate to having a baby! Of course, I only have a dog - so there ya go with that - I can't totally relate...Unfortunately all I have had the pleasure to have is kidney stones - and they are not sunshine, roses and sweet smelling little miracles.

Don't leave us for long!

48 hours till we are at least on the road to Disney!

 

[xanphylus]

Thank you everyone who is asking for little Caden's address!!!!! He will be so thrilled to get some happy mail. So far, he will get at least 9 or 10 cards from the greatest dis'ers ever! Thanks again!