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Sunday, November 22, 2009

It's Nice When It All Works Out -- friends, Xeloda, PET scans, & Disney

I need to do a PET scan, to see how I am doing.

All the imaging techniques (CT, MRI, PET) scan our bodies in different ways and provide different information.

With a PET, you have to be off chemo for at least two weeks before the scan, otherwise the chemo can influence the results, causing inaccuracies.

So, I am going to be off chemo when we go to Disney!!

Not only will that mean that I will have a bit more energy (I hope!), but I will also be able to eat more, at least by the end of our visit!

We will be spending our last Shabbat with very close friends, who also love food and are amazing cooks!  I am so looking forward to fabulous food!! Not to mention, really good company!

We were not planning on seeing anyone during this visit, besides my parents.  Our focus is 100% on spending quality family time together.

But, because we want to get back to Israel as soon as possible, we will be flying out of Orlando on a Friday and spending Shabbat in NJ.  This way, we can take a motza"sh (Saturday night) flight back home, and arrive on Sunday afternoon.  The kids will have plenty of time to sleep, so they can get back to school on Monday.

My friend was going to come visit me in Florida, until we decided against it. We were both disappointed that we would be "so close and, yet, so far away."  Then the flights, not only made a visit possible, but, made it necessary!

Things really seemed to be falling into place!

When I return to Israel, I will do an MRI of my head and a PET CT of my body.  I always get a bit anxious when I do tests.  I have learned, the hard way, that the results can surprise you, not necessarily in a good way.  Our last head MRI certainly surprised us, davka (on the contrary) in a very positive way.  So, you never know.  Still, until we get the "all clear," there is definitely a cloud of tension and anxiety.

But that is not where my head needs to be now.  (I mean, let's be honest.  My head is always in the clouds.... it just does not have to be in those clouds!)

I am going on vacation!!

We are going to have so much fun living in our fantasy world!!

I am so unbelievably psyched that it will be a chemo-free vacation!!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

13 comments:

Val said...

Such great news!!!! Very happy for you.

We go to the Orlando every year, as we have family there... but we don't always get to Disney, but it's a great and wonderful place!

Have a wonderful time!

Chanie and Aytan said...

you should check on this, but i think there are special passes where you can bypass part of the lines or at least wait in certain places that have seating and are out of the heat, if you have certain medical issues.
it might help with the tiredness/energy issue.
i'm not sure how many family members can accompany though.
have fun! sounds great to be able to take some time and take a break.

Anonymous said...

i am really excited with you and your family! have a great time

toby said...

It really does sound like a dream come true! Have a fantastic time!

Unknown said...

"A dream is a wish your heart makes...."

So glad that you will not only have a family vacation at Disney (I agree that outside of Israel it is the best place on earth!), but will be able to have a visit with your friend!

Ain't it grand when things fall into place?! :-)

orieyenta said...

Chanie mentioned this above but I can give you more details since we have done it...

When you go into the parks go to guest services - they can give you a pass that will put you at the front of any line. It is an extremely wonderful pass to have - especially if you tire easily. We usually bring a copy of the disabled placard from the car with us but they haven't always asked for it. I don't recall seeing something similar to this in Israel but perhaps you have something you can bring along just in case.

I'm thrilled for you and your family - have a wonderful trip.

Chanie and Aytan said...

orieyenta -
i know about it because we did it too - and also found it very helpful. we didnt use it for everything, jsut if we needed to.

i didnt need to bring any proof, and was coming from israel.
might be able to check guest services online.

chanie

mikimi said...

enjoy yourselves!

A Soldier's Mother said...

Man, you take a few days off from reading blogs and look what happens. Wow - ok - I am SO glad your son is fine. I was on the other side of this scenario...driving down to Mitzpe Nevo (NOT speeding, around a blind-ish curve), when a kid ran out between a wall and a car - smack into my car. Technically, he hit my car...but car meet boy, boy lose. He got off lucky - but was hurt moderately - cracked skull, broken shoulder, etc. Police checked the scene over and over again and then looked at my car again and again - dent was over my tire...and said, "he hit YOU!"

Didn't help how horrible I felt - thankfully, he's fine. I'm SO SO glad your son is too!

I'm SO SO SO SO glad you guys are going on vacation - have the most wonderful, wonderful time! Safe travels and come back to us soon.

Shelly said...

Wonderful the way things are working out!

Sarah said...

Hi! I am glad for you that you get to have a dream fulfilled. You know I used to play in the orchestra in EPCOT, right? The parks are *really* tiring to go through, even when I was at the peak of my health. My only suggestion is one you may reject, may not like, but I think you should consider renting a wheelchair each day at the parks. Pain can really put a damper on a great day, and your strength my last longer if you have a wheelchair. OTOH, it could be that they may restrict you from certain rides if you are in a wheelchair, so maybe it's not a good idea. I don't know, I'm a little worried. Gotta be one worrier in every crowd, doesn't there. I, personally, could not make it through a day in WDW (Walt Disney World, as we "cast members" call it :-}) at this point. Don't overdue it! Pace yourself and get amazing shoes.

You will have a lot of fun, I am 100% sure, and come back to us happy and in blessed vacation euphoria. :-)
love you lots!

Ranting Zelda said...

i hope you all have a great time together in orlando on the chemo free gift vacation. hope you'll have lots of funny things to report back to us when you return. all the best, zelda

Rivster said...

Time is everything as "they" say. So glad that your special time together will be chemo-free.

Let the eating begin!