Making plans - a good thing

Kathleen808

Hi Everyone,

Well I am happy to say that our family has been enjoying the beginning of our vacation in Massachusetts. When we made plans back in January 2011 for this summer, it seemed so far off. I was hesitant to book airline tickets and a house on Cape Cod. We made sure everything was refundable. We booked everything but in the back of my mind I thougtht, "Do we really dare to think **** will be well enough to travel and have fun this summer?" So far the answer is YES! **** took his chemo a few days later than normal so the time in between wouldn't be too long. Also, his onc doubled his Avastin dose. It did not seem to cause him any problems. We stayed at ****'s best friend's beach house for the first few days. A bunch of his high school friends got together last night and we had a great time!!! We have steamers, corn on the cob, steak strips, etc.. It was so great to sit on the porch over looking the harbor and just enjoy time with good friends. We are on our way to Cape Cod today for 2 weeks. I am praying for good health for both **** and our daughter who has epilespy (no seizures so far!!!!)

I just wanted to encourage those of you who may be hesitating about making plans in the future. Might as well just do it an see what happens. It's a bit scary but then if you get to do it, it is wonderful!!! Thinking of everyone.

Happy 4th!!!!

Aloha,
Kathleen

ps The dogs are in good hands, staying in our house with friends.

PhillieG

Cape Cod
Hi Guys, Welcome State-side ;-)
I'm glad that **** is feeling better and that you are on vacation. We used to go to the Cape a lot. It's real nice up there. We used to like to stay at Chatham which is sort of like the elbow of the Cape. A very nice town and you get to enjoy the ocean in one area and the bay in the other. The main difference is about 15° in water temps! Much colder by the ocean but real pretty. If you can, try to check it out. Wellfleet is very nice as is P-town but it can be very crowded. There are lots of whale watching tours out of there.
Enjoy
-phil
Happy 4th to you both too...

Buckwirth

Thanks Kathleen
Making plans is a great thing. On my European trip there was one other cancer patient, this one with brain cancer. For both of us this was something that we wanted to do, and we both knew that something could come up and take it away from us at the last minute.

In my case, the weekend prior to the trip I was in the hospital, with them looking for blood clots in my legs. Turned out to be lymphedema, not a minor problem, but one I could manage on the trip.

It should also be noted that I put off the start of my current chemo treatments by over a month so we could make the trip as scheduled, a decision I do not regret in the least.

My wife really struggled, at one point saying she did not want to go. In the end it was a great trip, and last night we spent about two hours reviewing pictures and talking about what a wonderful experience it was.

Make plans, live, laugh, cry. Make memories, for the patient, the caregiver and all of your friends and family. Whether it is traveling across the continent, or a drive to the zoo, find a way to enjoy yourselves on this big blue ball!

Blake

sasjourney

Have a wonderful vacation!
Hi Kathleen,

I am so happy to hear that you, **** and the family are enjoying your vacation. My husband is from Massachusetts also and we have been to the Cape with his family many times. We really love it there and cherish those memories. I hope you have the most wonderful time with your family and friends. I am so glad that **** is feeling well.

Hugs,
Sara

Kathleen808

Buckwirth said:

Thanks Kathleen
Making plans is a great thing. On my European trip there was one other cancer patient, this one with brain cancer. For both of us this was something that we wanted to do, and we both knew that something could come up and take it away from us at the last minute.

In my case, the weekend prior to the trip I was in the hospital, with them looking for blood clots in my legs. Turned out to be lymphedema, not a minor problem, but one I could manage on the trip.

It should also be noted that I put off the start of my current chemo treatments by over a month so we could make the trip as scheduled, a decision I do not regret in the least.

My wife really struggled, at one point saying she did not want to go. In the end it was a great trip, and last night we spent about two hours reviewing pictures and talking about what a wonderful experience it was.

Make plans, live, laugh, cry. Make memories, for the patient, the caregiver and all of your friends and family. Whether it is traveling across the continent, or a drive to the zoo, find a way to enjoy yourselves on this big blue ball!

Blake

Blake
Blake,
I love that you made the trio and it was wonderful!! I agree, it is so good for everyone. I am thrilled that we are here.

Aloha,
Kathleen

Kathleen808

PhillieG said:

Cape Cod
Hi Guys, Welcome State-side ;-)
I'm glad that **** is feeling better and that you are on vacation. We used to go to the Cape a lot. It's real nice up there. We used to like to stay at Chatham which is sort of like the elbow of the Cape. A very nice town and you get to enjoy the ocean in one area and the bay in the other. The main difference is about 15° in water temps! Much colder by the ocean but real pretty. If you can, try to check it out. Wellfleet is very nice as is P-town but it can be very crowded. There are lots of whale watching tours out of there.
Enjoy
-phil
Happy 4th to you both too...

Hi Phil
Here we are on the mainland, far from home and it is so good!! We are all so happy to be here. Enjoy the weekend!

Aloha,
Kathleen

Kathleen808

sasjourney said:

Have a wonderful vacation!
Hi Kathleen,

I am so happy to hear that you, **** and the family are enjoying your vacation. My husband is from Massachusetts also and we have been to the Cape with his family many times. We really love it there and cherish those memories. I hope you have the most wonderful time with your family and friends. I am so glad that **** is feeling well.

Hugs,
Sara

Sara
Sara,
I agree the Cape is very special!

Aloha
Kathleen

Kathleen808

We're here!
Wow, I didn't know I'd react how I did when we got up to the part of the Cape where we always stay. As we came up on Wellfleet I was overcome with emotion **** was driving a different car so I could just cry. I really never thought we would make it back here. **** introduced me to Cape Cod 25 years ago and we have come to the same neighborhood every other year since then. We should have come last summer but **** just had surgery and was starting chemotherapy again. Our girls feel so at home here. We always stay in the same neighborhood and this is our 3rd time in this beautiful home on the marsh. It is incredible! I am so grateful. Dicks mom and sister will be with us the whole time ( which is good. I love them). Take care.

Aloha

Kathleen

I love hope and laughter!

2bhealed

So happy
to hear you all are well on your way to enjoying your vacation.

Have a wonderful 4th!

peace, emily

lisa42

That's wonderful!
Hi Kathleen,

I'm so glad to hear you've gone forward with your vacation plans and all is going well so far!! I will say a prayer now that all will continue to be well and that you will have a wonderfully memorable vacation!!

Hugs,
Lisa

(who's going away for 4 days this week and a cruise the 1st wk of August & is a bit worried about how I'll feel- but going forward with the plans!)

Annabelle41415

That is wonderful
You need to make long term plans, if not, then what is there for looking ahead. I'm sure that **** has felt this too, but this is the best thing that could happen. You needed to get away and you all did. Glad your daughter is doing well too. Just want all of you to enjoy yourself and make the best of all you have there. Just seems like vacations go so fast - don't they? You must have had a long flight. Our daughter and son-in-law just came from HI (stationed there) and they came to MI and it was 17 hours. Love your stamina:) Have a great time.

Kim

pete43lost_at_sea

have a wonderful holiday
dear kathleen,

have a ball on the big blue ball.

i hope **** stays well.

hugs,
pete

Fight for my love

Nice place to go.Actually we
Nice place to go.Actually we just came back from cape cod,my husband had a service call at the marine biology laboratory.We didn't get time to hang out,but we had great seafood at the restraurants.I love that place.Enjoy the vacation and have fun!

here4lfe

I Second That!
My wife and I had the greatest time in Hawaii. Made the arrangements in January and the trip in April after her chemoablation.

Looking forward to Australia next year.

Best

KathiM

You GO, girl!!!!
Yup, that's what it's all about....if you invest (with a safety net...lol) in the future it does so many wonderful things, including telling the beast that it is NOT the boss!!!!

I would imagine that being on the mainland is a bit of adjustment....I remember coming back from the islands after only a week and thinking "WHAT am I DOING in this ratrace?????"

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!

Hugs, Kathi

dokkerhoo

Planning and cancer
I think it is awesome that some people in the "cancer situation" can still make some plans (even if assuring refundability in the case of travel tickets . I am not sure it is clear for everyone how to actually accomplish it. If someone's treatment has no end (terminal diagnosis with palliative continual chemotherapy) and one cannot eat nor drink nor speak, it becomes more of a puzzle as to what is "worth" planning and what will definitely bring enjoyment as the number of options is so drastically reduced. I love hearing other folks with cancer describe their post-treatment plans because I can live vicariously through that but I am left without an answer to the question as to how I can achieve this myself. It seems fatalistic to NOT make plans, but one begins to wonder if it is also realistic. Reading about how others are living onward despite their circumstances comprises a nice break for others less clear about what living well means once things get very complicated. Sometimes it is misinterpreted that someone in dire cancer straights is laying around like a lump because he or she has resigned themselves to "death at any moment" or has succumbed to cancer treatment as the ruler of one's life. Many such folks live busily each day but refrain from allowing themselves to look ahead with hope as one normally would do. It is this "wall" that mysteriously evades penetration but I know it can be passed since many of you are evidently doing it.

Thom

tootsie1

Good for you!
Fabulous! Hope y'all have the BEST time!

*hugs*
Gail

maglets

tootsie1 said:

Good for you!
Fabulous! Hope y'all have the BEST time!

*hugs*
Gail

Kath and ****
I so understand your initial hesitancy about vacation planning...always scarey but as others have said....soooo happy you went for it...so happy it is all working for you.

I spend most of our long cold winters wondering if i will ever see the old camp here....and this is my seventh year to be blessed....returning between cancers and chemo

praying you have all had the very best time

hugs .....mags