Noah's Wish Trip (Wings ~ July 29, 2009)

[ndloewen]

Well, you made me cry. You really amaze me - having a child with such challenges and you always seem to be finding the positive in everything and counting your blessings. I need to do the same thing with my healthy children. So glad you got to celebrate Christmas! I love the photo on Santa's lap.

Thank you. It's not always easy to find the positive, but I would drown here if I didn't try. I love our Santa pictures too.

WOW! This place is incredible. and just when I thought it was perfect, you show us Christmas. Where do I sign up? I know where I will be volunteering if I get to move to Orlando.....in 18 years.

Another recruit!! Wish we could move there too...goodbye Canadian winters!

Oh, and there is just so much more to tell you yet about GKTW!

 

[Britgirlus]

Wow - Christmas every week - that place is just amazing ! I have to admit I had never heard of GKTW until recently (when I started reading some WISH trip reports when I SHOULD be planning our Disney vacation next week) - what a truly wonderful place !! I have worked for 25+ years off and on with kids with "special needs", so this place definitely hit home with me - thanks for showing me how wonderful it is and sharing your trip with us !!

 

[ndloewen]

Well, we took the plunge today...

We have been toying with the idea of a late summer trip to California to take in some of the parks with Noah's world passport. (More to come about the passport in my trip report, but our family can get into a ton of places for free over the next year). So every day I've been scouting out flights. Everything was well over $2000 for our family of 5 to fly from Canada. Also, not all airlines will allow Noah to travel with oxygen, which is limiting.

But today I found an awesome deal...direct flights from Fargo (about a 4 hr drive from us) with Allegiant Air for $69 one way!! Prices like that are unheard of flying out of Canada! Yes, it's a bit of a drive, but well worth it, and we would drive out the night before. And, the oxgyen is NOT an issue! So...

We booked!! Off to Los Angeles, San Diego and of course, Disneyland: August 29th to September 5th.

I am SO excited...but also freaking out a bit. We have travel insurance though, so we are covered if Noah gets sick. Or if the swine flu gets worse down there. We are NOT telling the kids, in case we have to cancel at the last minute. So it will be a surprise (which will be the other really fun part about this)!

Now I get to start obsessively planning (in secret of course)! Really, really hoping this will work out. We live day to day here with Noah's health, so to plan something in advance is really difficult. But I am bound and determined to get us some more amazing memories.

 

[maroo]

Woo Hoo!! A TRIP!!

That sounds like so much fun!

That is a GREAT price on tickets and I am jealous you guys get to go to Disneyland! That will be great fun!

 

[MRNsMommy]

for a trip! Sounds like it'll be fun! And amazing deal on the flight!

 

[KittyKat08]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I have been following your TR and it's just fantastic. I have cried many times and feel like I know you and your family. I'm thrilled to hear that you are coming to my neck of the woods. You guys will love California! Can't wait for more, much love to you and your family.

 

[macntosh]

Loving your pictures and ability to tell your story. Thanks for sharing it all. Only problem is you make me feel like I missed a lot. I didn't know about story telling.

Keep up the great work and I'm excited about your other "little" journey!

 

[kdzbear]

We booked!! Off to Los Angeles, San Diego and of course, Disneyland: August 29th to September 5th.


Now I get to start obsessively planning (in secret of course)! Really, really hoping this will work out. We live day to day here with Noah's health, so to plan something in advance is really difficult. But I am bound and determined to get us some more amazing memories.

Let me know if I can answer any questions. I have a sister that lives in LA and we used to go out there every other year when my oldest was little. I was also out there last fall with my two littlest. There is a link in my pre-trip report for our trip to Disneyland/San Diego. I can help with which beach to go to and can answer questions about other attractions! I am so excited for your family!

 

[maroo]

Prayers Needed...


Noah's Mom posted this on her blog...

Off to the ER...Noah's central line broke.



I, personally, have no idea what that means?? But it certainly sounds like they can use our prayers!

Here is a link to her blog, for those of you guys that want to keep up. I will try to update here, too, as I can!

http://noahgrantjohn.blogspot.com/

 

[MRNsMommy]

Definitely sending prayers to them!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

My prayers are with this family! Lots of hugs sending their way!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey There,

Wanted to let you know we are praying for you over here- way across the world. He's in Good hands!

What a fantastic deal on airfare- and you get a trip!! to my old stomping grounds- Disneyland! Yeah!!! You'll have a great time!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

So glad to read that Noah is back home already. Reading that you all were home put a smile on my face for sure!

 

[maroo]

Woo Hoo!! I was so happy to hear that Noah is HOME!! I was afraid you guys would lose that line! He is very fortunate to have a great nurse AND Mom in one!!

 

[kdzbear]

I am so glad that Noah is ok and back home!

 

[ndloewen]

Thank you all for your prayers. After spending a second day in the ER yesterday, getting Noah's central line repaired a second time, we are now home with a working line. We are so thankful, as this is literally Noah's lifeline. We are praying that this time the repair will hold.

We also saw our surgeon in the ER, who decided she could start looking for some OR time for Noah to repair his prolapsed stoma. Next week we have an appointment with anesthesia...if they say his lungs are clear enough, then she will go ahead a schedule surgery, probably within the next few weeks. So looks like a hospital stay in the near future.

I am working on posting day 4, once I get my pictures uploaded! Stay tuned...

 

[MRNsMommy]

Take your time on the update! Glad to hear that Noah's back home! Praying for y'all!

 

[ndloewen]

After another wonderful breakfast at the Gingerbread house, and a couple of rides on the carousal, of course, we went to meet some of the Universal characters. Disney isn't the only one who has characters come to GKTW. Every week some of the Universal characters also come. This week was Scooby Doo and Shaggy...

After meeting the characters and getting balloons, we were off to Islands of Adventure (one of Universal's parks).

This park is divided into 5 Islands. First stop, Seuss Landing...a whimsical, magical island based on the books by Dr Seuss...

This was definately the kids favorite part of this park...and Noah was able to ride most of the rides in this part of the park. We thought Disney did a good job with wish families...until we got to Universal. Universal employees were absolutely fantastic...I think they spend their days scouting for wish families. We would simply have to wander by a ride, and an employee would be running out to us, pulling us towards the ride, right to the front of the line. One particular ride, we didn't see an employee right away. The line wasn't too long, so we just got in the regular line...no big deal to us. But when an employee spotted our button as we were boarding, they reprimanded us for waiting in line. We were given strict instructions to NEVER, EVER wait in a line at their parks...for them it is a huge deal to have a wish family wait in line. Really, they went over the top to make sure we had a wonderful day. My big regret is that we didn't make it back to one of their parks for a second day, but we had planned to go back during our second week.

The carousal...

Noah loved this ride, of course...

One fish, two fish...Noah HATED this ride and screamed through it, as the fish spit water at us. Didn't do that one twice!

As we were finishing up in Suess Land, we spotted the Grinch. After we get autographs, the employee told us to head for the storytime show, and then after, they would set up a special meeting for us with the characters.

Storytime with the characters...

Our special meet/greet with Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 & 2, and whoever that yellow guy is...

After spending alot of time in Seuss land, we breezed through the next couple of islands pretty quickly. The Lost Continent island I think we just walked through...alot of it was shut down as they are building a Harry Potter Castle. Jurassic Park island we stopped and rode Jurassic (a fantastic flume ride), and the kids rode Pterandon Flyers, a kids roller coaster, which I think is one of the shortest rides ever, but people wait over 60 minutes for it! Of course, we had no wait at all.

The fourth island is Toon Lagoon...full of water rides. And these rides you don't just get wet...you get absolutely drenched to the bone! We had our rain ponchos and wore them on these rides, after seeing the state of the people walking off the rides. Even with the ponchos we managed to get pretty wet. Thankfully it was a very warm day and we dried quickly. Noah was too small for these rides, so we took turns riding as Noah entertained himself with a coke can. He was actually feeling pretty good today, so it was a really good day.

Next up...Super Hero Island and a private meet/greet with the superheros.

 

[Eeyore's-tail-tack]

Our special meet/greet with Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 & 2, and whoever that yellow guy is...ndloewen

I looked it up this morning. It seems that it is "Sam I am" from the green eggs and ham book.

 

[kimmylaj]

this is by far one of my favorite updates to date. i am completely a disney girl, but noah just looks absolutely amazing thrilled in these pictures. i love it. every trip i say i will go to universal , it just hasnt happened yet, but seuss landing is quite appealing i think.