Our Last Minute CANCER SUCKS Trip

[just4today]

Great trip report Tricia! Your pictures are beautiful

 

[proteus]

My prayers are with you.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh I love your trip report, just found it and read it up to date, can't wait to read the rest.
your boys are adorable!!

Your story has put tears in my eyes a few times, and I wish Carol and your family the best of luck dealing with this!!

 

[Picabo]

MORE MORE MORE! I'm loving every minute of the TR and all the pix. Infact (just like being on vacation for real) I am already dreading when your TR is over!!! Loved all the CP pix....not bored at ALL! MORE please!

Carol looks soooo happy in all the pix. She is so blessed to have such a wonderful, supportive family! That's half the battle some of the time!

melanie

 

[madcoco]

RVGal Great to hear your sister is doing well and thanks again for sharing part of your life. It has been an almost over the edge emotional week. After arrving to where my Mom is, I got a call that DW's bestfriend was in an accident and in critical condition in Memphis(Harrah's Bus crash. The woman sitting next to her perished) They were just at our house the week before visiting WDW. Your thread has really helped here. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures. My mother had her first chemo session yesterday. Her cancer of unknown primary source(CUPS) has been now narrowed down to Ovarian Cancer which makes its a bit "easier" to treat than pancreatic or unknown. She supposedly had her Ovaries removed years ago with a ,hysterectomy however her Oncologist feels they were not removed but atrophied which now has led to this.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[sherreis]

madcoco - best wishes for your mother. Hoping things go well with chemo.

 

[FreFam5]

Oh - I love IASW!! My kids were very young the last time we went to Disney (1, 3, 4) - I can just imagine that at least my oldest (who will be 9 when we go this year) won't like it as much!!!!!

 

[LittlePurplePumpkin]

I am sitting here and can not stop crying. Please tell Carol she will be in my prayers along with my children's prayers. I am so happy you guys are having fun

 

[RVGal]

RVGal Great to hear your sister is doing well and thanks again for sharing part of your life. It has been an almost over the edge emotional week. After arrving to where my Mom is, I got a call that DW's bestfriend was in an accident and in critical condition in Memphis(Harrah's Bus crash. The woman sitting next to her perished) They were just at our house the week before visiting WDW. Your thread has really helped here. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures. My mother had her first chemo session yesterday. Her cancer of unknown primary source(CUPS) has been now narrowed down to Ovarian Cancer which makes its a bit "easier" to treat than pancreatic or unknown. She supposedly had her Ovaries removed years ago with a ,hysterectomy however her Oncologist feels they were not removed but atrophied which now has led to this.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I guess the positive is that they have named your mom's cancer. It is always easier to fight a known beast.

I don't understand why life seems to send us a pile of these things to deal with all at once sometimes. I tend to play the Scarlett O'Hara card and "think about that tomorrow" if I feel overwhelmed.

Your family and DW's friend are in our thoughts and prayers as well.

I went to see Carol briefly this afternoon. She is sitting up and watching tv. She looks pretty good for someone who just had surgery. Her appetite is coming back and she is able to walk for short distances.

Knowing that chemo is on the horizon for her when she recovers from this is a terrible feeling. I want her to heal from the surgery, but when she does, the chemo will make her so sick that she'll be out of it for days at a time.

Did I say cancer sucks yet? I did? Okay, I'll shut up now.

 

[RVGal]

I am sitting here and can not stop crying. Please tell Carol she will be in my prayers along with my children's prayers. I am so happy you guys are having fun

Awww... don't cry. This was a special, wonderful trip for all of us.


Thanks to you and to everyone for all the prayers and kind words.

 

[alebisi]

love your trip report! I read it by case, I'm so glad it popped out, glad that carol is getting better she and your family have to be strong you'll get through this! keep us update, sending you lots of pixie dust!
BTW your kids are sooooo cute

 

[RVGal]

Where was I? Oh, yeah. The long lunch at CP. Let me just say that we did the Pooh breakfast at CP on our last trip (May, 2007). I liked the breakfast better than the lunch. The food selections on the buffet for breakfast were more of the kind that I like. Also, the characters were spaced out more on the breakfast visit. On this trip, we were completely done with our meal and then had to sit and wait before the characters got there. I'm sure timing has something to do with it. Peak breakfast hour vs. early lunch. Anyway, I'm sure that there are plenty of people who prefer the lunch/dinner choices and all that. I'm just tossing my opinions out there for anyone who cares.

So, with lunch done, we headed toward Frontierland/Liberty Square. Carol wanted to ride Haunted Mansion. Oh, boy. So did I. However, Joshua is convinced that "haunted" means "scary" and he refuses to ride it. I've tried telling him that it is more funny or silly than scary. Nothing on it is real. Blah, blah, yadda, yadda. He's not buying it. Well, I'm not going to force him. He'll ride when he's ready. So, the herd went to HM while the boys and I tried to find something cool to do. Did I mention that it was hot that day? Florida in August hot. Freaking hot. This is why we don't come in the summer anymore hot. Even prescription strength deoderant can't touch it hot. But I'm not complaining. Much.

I decided to try the Riverboat. Hey, it moves. There must be a breeze created by that, right? Wrong. Here is a picture I snapped before I melted into a puddle on the deck.

After that, we re-joined the herd and decided to seek air conditioning. First stop, the Country Bear Jamboree.

Next was Splash Mountain. I can't seem to find any pictures of that turned out on that ride.

Then we headed into Adventureland and rode the Magic Carpets. Holy schmoly was it hot. I think I left a layer of my skin on the seat. We were once again desperate for a/c. So desperate that we turned to...

... The Enchanted Tiki Room. Once again, no offense intended to those that love the show. I thought it was great when I was a kid, but I could care less if we see it now. It was just sheer need for cool air that drove our decision this time.

After that was Pirates of the Caribbean. Daniel & Joshua both love that ride. They sing the "yo ho ho ho, a pirates life for me" part all the time. None of my attemts to get pictures on the ride turned out, but we did meet Capt Hook and Mr Smee after we finished riding.

We crossed over in front of the castle...

... and into Tomorrowland. We all did Buzz Lightyear.

Then some of the group wanted to do Space Mtn. Rollercoasters are a no-no for Joshua, so we did the Indy Speedway instead. We re-grouped and did the Astro Orbiter.

Carol was tiring out and so were the boys, so we called it a day. We told Susan, Paul & Aaron goodbye, as they were driving home after closing down the park. We headed back on the bus to grab some dinner at the food court. I let the boys splash around in the pool and then called for bath & bedtime.

Next up: Our last day we head back to the Studios (told you TSM was worth it!).

 

[Bloodhound]

another great update...thanks for all the pics.

 

[scotlass]

Hey Youse.....

Lovin your trippie and so glad Carol is getting stronger.

More love over the water to youse......

 

[MAJ RN]

Great update!! I do not think I could tolerate WDW in August We went in July one year and were too exausted by evening to do anything at night. Can't wait to read about your last day. Hope all is well with Carol.


Melissa

 

[kimbo0569]

Tricia, Love reading your TR - wish your trip was under more positive circumstances but it was awesome that you all could do that for your sister

Cancer does suck BIG TIME! When I was 13, my grandmother died of liver cancer. I was very close to her and it was a very difficult time for me. She was diagnosed in November 1982 and passed in March 1983, right before my confirmation. My mother lost her best friend just last year to pancreatic cancer.

Keeping prayers and positive thoughts for your sister, you and your family.

 

[PEANUT1]

you are a very special lady and you have a lovely family. this report reminds us what is really important in life. Thank you.

 

[celerystalker]

Next, dammit, we're right there so I guess we have to do It's A Small World. I mean no offense to those that love the ride. I can understand the appeal. I think. I just don't happen to enjoy watching the round headed kids sing the most annoying song ever over and over and over. My boys love it. I think that is payback for something I did. I'm not sure what I did, but it must have been bad.

I make it a rule to do IASW once a year. Since my next trip might not be for a few years , I'm kinda feeling nostalgic for it.
But still laughing at you.
(or with you, whichever.)

 

[Pgh janie]

LOVE your report, it's fantastic!

LOVE your pictures! Your boys are soooooo cute!

Lots of prayers to Carol and your entire family,
everyone should be so lucky to have a sister like you.

your Pittsburgh amiga,
janie

 

[dogodisney]

YES! Cancer Sucks! I know first hand. In a span of 8 months, we lost my mom, MIL, and FIL all to cancer. My heart goes out to all of you.

Your story has really touched my heart. I am so happy for all of you. It is wonderful that you all could get together on such short notice to go on a family trip. The memories you all will have is priceless. It must be so rewarding to your sister to know that she has such a loving, caring, and supportive family.

May God Bless you all and heal your sister so you all can make a another trip to Disney, and it be a celebration of her being cancer free.