should i cancel our trip???

[Hopefully]

How does your spouse feel about the trip? It is his mother. I would probably use his thoughts and feelings as the guide for my decision.
Don't feel as if you will never get to Disney - you will, when the time is really right.
Good Luck in your decision and my sympathies for your situation.

 

[Disneyholics5]

Looks like I am in the minority. I agree with Mama22. I personally could never think of going to WDW at such a time. Disney will always be there and you would be surprised how resilant kids can be. I would never be able to enjoy myself with constantly worrying, praying and calling home, the stress would be way too much for me. I could never handle it. But that is me. I lost my mother 15 years ago in January.I thought I would never be able to go to WDW again because we always went as family, my mother, my aunt, myself and my son, we took our usual May and November/December trip in her memory. I lost my aunt 3 years ago in July and again felt no way could I go back to WDW but we went to Disney for our November/December trip in her memory, it was very tough both times but I believe that they were and are with us always. Disney will be more than happy to refund your money or change them to another date. Bear in mind that if anything does happen and your MIL passes, you surely will need that vacation. This is just my opinion and how I would react. Only you and your husband can decide what is best for your family. Whatever you decide, my prayers are with you.

 

[beebles]

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. She is actually doing better today, not out of the water, but off of the ventilator. Such a hard decision to make, I guess I will just have to wait until it gets closer.

 

[melagan]

I can so relate to this as I am battling with myself about canceling our Dec. trip. My dad is not going to be with us much longer due to cancer (he has refused anymore treatment). I talked it over with my mom and she insists that we go. She must of told my dad because he sat me down just yesterday and told me that it would break his heart if I didn't not take his grandbabies to Disney because of him. I don't want to be away incase something happens but I don't want to hurt my dad. My thinking is I bought the trip insurance for this very reason and if something happens while we are gone the I will just get on the first flight out of there but at least my dad will know that for the first time in my life I did what he told me to do. LOL LOL LOL

 

[DisneyObsessed]

twice. We had our first ever trip to WDW planned and my MIL was operated on, put on life support, and we had to decide what to do. Our entire family wanted us to go as that would have been what she would want us to do. The way it worked out, we left for WDW the day after we buried her. We felt really strange doing it, but it worked out for the best. My DH felt better about the whole thing, and it got my kids minds off of losing their Memere.

Then, 3 years later we had a trip planned to Maryland. My father wasn't really ill, but he was planning to go in for bypass surgery soon. He said to me one day, "if anything should happen, I don't want you guys to miss this trip to Maryland. I know how much you've been looking forward to it." A few days later, he had a massive heart attack and died. It was hard, but we did go, and once again, it was nice to get away.

I really feel our loved ones want us to go on as planned even with they're ill. Ultimately, you have to do what you feel is right in your heart, but I really don't think taking your family on this trip would be wrong. Your kids deserve it as well as you.

Best of everything to you.

 

[PamNC]

to read about the illnesses in your family. Lung cancer is a horrible thing and I wish everyone who smokes would immediately STOP. My mother smokes and has since age 16 and she has chronic bronchitis. The doctor said emphesema (spelling?) and/or lung cancer was next. But she won't stop. I've known several people with relatives who have died of lung cancer. Sad!!

About your trip, that's a tough one and a decision only you can make. I think whatever decision you make is okay. You know, your MIL may want you to go on with your life and experience a magical vacation with your family. You're not going away forever.

Or, you may want to stay to spend time with her. Again, either way...it's your decision and it's OKAY.

PamNC

 

[Kathy C]

I am in same situation as you are. We have a tripped planned Dec 10-16. We are DVC members and I have two studios booked - one for my husband and I and one for my son and his girlfriend. My 64 yr old mom has recurrent breast cancer and stopped treatment Sept '04 at which time she was given two weeks to two months to live. It's been 14 months and my mom is still with us. I am planning to go but will cancel in a heartbeat if things start going downhill. We also have our passes, airline tickets, tickets to MVMCP and would lose our DVC points if I cancelled unless I'd be able to rent them on short notice, but I wouldn't care. My mom and dad are my first priority. I agree with the poster who said to talk with your husband since it's his mom.

 

[Martha7]

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this! I agree with the other posters, who have suggested letting your DH make the call. I wonder if he has siblings who would resent you taking the trip. My FIL lived overseas when his Mom passed away, and his sister has always held against him the fact that he "wasn't there" when their Mom passed. He rushed home, but couldn't get to the US from Austria in time.If your DH makes the call, his siblings, (if there are any) can deal with the fact that he decided what to do. When my Mom was ill in 2001, I cancelled our trip, since she was in the hospital and we just went later in the year. It ended up being a nice trip, especially since we weren't worried about what was going on with her at home.

 

[beebles]

It is nice to know that others have been through the same thing. It really has been a terrible year for me, I am still having a difficult time with my mom passing. She was my buddy and best friend and this has been the first close death for me. I am a nurse and I take care of patients all the time, so unfortunately I kind of know the path/progress the pt. will take. Right now, it is difficult with the MIL, every day will tell. I really do not foresee her HOME in less then 3 weeks (we are supposed to leave 11/30). IF she is out of the hospital, she will need some serious rehab. If she is in rehab, i will feel ok going. My husband stilll thinks we are going. But, sometimes they don't realize the seriousness of it all because they are non medically orientated. Sometimes I wish I were! It is just all this uncertainty that drives me crazy. I am a huge planner.
Truthfully, the one's whose father is very ill, I would stay home. I personally could not forgive myself if I were away and not there for my parents. I was with my mother her entire battle of lung cancer, and even as a nurse, it was and still is the hardest thing I ever experienced! But, being there those last days and those memories you won't forget.
God bless to all those who are also hurting. Thank you for the advice. I will keep you posted as the time gets closer.

 

[dis4fun]

I so feel for you and your family. You are getting so many different opinions and advice that I don't won't to make it any more difficult on you to decide, but this is my experience:

We had our vacation planned for May of this year when my Mother took a turn for the worse about 3 wks before we were to leave. Everything was planned and packed and ready to go. I agonized over it and worried about what to do. Even though she was terminal, it looked like it was something that could go on for a while and that we might bring her home from the hospital. I called Disney the week before we were to leave and rebooked for July. They were so wonderful about changing everything for me without penalty. Long story short, she never got to come home from the hospital and she passed away the day we would have left for WDW. I was so glad that I was there for her those last few days.

We took our much needed vacation to WDW in July, and though it was bittersweet, I did not have to worrie and wonder about getting a phone call to rush home.

Do what you feel is right for your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.