Then and Now | AJ

We are doing very well. I feel bad for neglecting this blog as it does have good information on it and I want to spread good news as well. There are so many bad stories out there, but we want to share a good one!

We are still battling the ‘aftermath’ of cancer. It’s such a rollercoaster and never-ending. I’m trying to think of what we’ve done and gone through now. AJ now has hearing aids, he has had one cataract surgery and will probably have another on his other eye. He will always wear reading glasses now. He will always have balance issues.  He will never be able to play physical, contact sports. He is very much an old soul in a young persons body. I took pictures today after coming home from a Dr.’s visit and haircut. It is a progression that a young child should not have to go through. But he did and he is a survivor. There are a lot of survivors out there and we need to remember that. Cancer is not a death sentence, there are happy endings.

I thought we were/are home-free for awhile. I was so happy, the treatments worked, we were back on course, of course everything was a little different and new, what we refer to as ‘the new normal’. But things for AJ weren’t ok. He has struggled a lot with the fact that he woke up one morning a normal, healthy 7 year old. Someone who could do anything he wanted (within reason). To waking up in a hospital bed with limitations. Not only limitations, but being DEFINED by cancer. I’m sorry, but no one wants to be defined by cancer. We are getting better, a little bit every day. Here are some photos to add to my story.

Progression

Here he is today, not only looking good and healthy, but I like it that there is more happiness in his eyes.

Today

Happy New Year 2011

I know I haven’t posted here for quite some time, I do keep up with CB though and that link is here it’s hard to keep up with so many blogs. LOL AJ is doing well, latent effects of chemo and radiation continue to plague us but we are so grateful to have him with us that those are just things we have to deal with.

This summer we discovered he had catacts on both eyes caused by radiation treatments. He had one removed in November and we are holding off on the other one for the moment. We also discovered this year his hearing has decreased further. We will be evaluating in January the possibility of hearing aids.

If I had any advice for cancer patients, or their moms & dads, be on the lookout for these things.

Our 2009 Make A Wish DCL Cruise Album

I know I haven’t posted in a long time. It is hard trying to keep up post cancer (not complaining) LOL

I just got done designing our Make A Wish album of our Disney Wonder Cruise and wanted to share.

Here it is: ALBUM

Cruising on the Disney Wonder

Well, I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated this blog and I apologize. We just got back from our bounceback Disney Cruise on the Wonder and had so much fun.

AJ’s MAW – Day 4 – At sea

Day 4 was our at sea day. It was chilly and windy so the pools were out, and ping pong was interesting in the wind. Austin hung out at the teen club most of the day with his friends and AJ, Chris & I took in a 3D Bolt movie which was very good. Austin won a drawing in a raffle from one of the 13 Disney artists.

AJ went over to the Oceaneers Lab for awhile to play games and Chris & I wandered around the ship a little sipping on mochas. We went to Shutters and picked out some pictures to take home with us and looked at the Art Gallery. Later on we decided to order lunch from room service which was fun since it’s not something we normally do.

Oceaneer Lab

Outside of Triton’s

Chris and I went to a Martini tasting that was fun before dinner at Animator’s Palate

Chocolate peanut butter pie…yummm….
Animators Palate is fun because it starts out B&W and ends up in color the staff even changes clothes. I did have more pictures but they didn’t turn out for some reason.

So there you have it. We disembarked the next morning in FL and it was 34 degrees! Brrrrrr! and headed home.
THANK YOU Make A Wish & Disney!!!!!

Pirate Party

Night 3 and we were dancing at the Pirate Party.

ship

crowd

The Castmembers were trying to show us moves to do in a type of linedance thing, but AJ said, “I just want to do my thing and that’s breakdancing!” What a rebel, non-conformist! I loved it!

Breakdancing 2

There was the BIGGEST Chocolate ship I’ve ever seen.

ship

and Mickey to the Rescue!

mickey 1

mickey 2

Finally, the moment we were waiting for….FIREWORKS! Disney is the only cruiseline in the world that is allowed to launch fireworks off of the ship at sea.

Fireworks 1

fireworks 2

fireworks 3

finally we went back to the room for some sleep and found a towel dog!!!

towel dog

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

Christy Marks

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ajmarks

http://prayforaj.wordpress.com/

http://www.teamunite.net/

AJ’s MAW Disney Cruise – Day 3 – Castaway Cay

AJ’s MAW – Day 3 – Castaway Cay!

So we get up on day 3 and look out the porthole and see gloom and general yuckiness. Darn. All through breakfast we’re hoping we will be able to dock because sometimes they aren’t able to dock when the waters are rough. Here are a few pictures:

Thankfully a cheer goes up from the crew, we are docked. Unfortunately all of the activities except a little swimming and biking are cancelled due to high winds. We were all a little disappointed since Austin & Chris were supposed to go parasailing and AJ and I were supposed to swim with stingrays and ride waterbikes.

Look at the tree! Yeah, parasailing might not be a good idea!

palm tree

We stopped to take some pictures of the Flying Dutchman and of course, a visit with Goofy & AJ’s favorite, Pluto.

Dutchman 1

Chris & AJ

The boys

Dutchman 2

Goofy and AJ

AJ and Pluto

I have to add in here, AJ was a little bitter about the whole watertrike thing. He REALLY wanted to ride that trike. He and Chris hung around to eat the BBQ lunch (this wasn’t the type of BBQ we’re used to here in the midwest btw, but it was ok) and then went back to the ship.

Chris & AJ

view

Austin and I braved it on the beach for another hour or so. Yes, I know it ‘looks’ beautiful in some of these, but it was COLDD! brrrr…

beach

Sand Castles

Yeah, here it is from the other direction.

The Wonder

Once back onboard we relaxed and got ready to go to a private party with Captain Mickey!!!! We didn’t know what it was until we got there, and it was in the lux ‘Cadillac Lounge’ that the boys thought was so cool.

private 2

Private

After that we got ready for the Pirate Party!!! Which deserves it’s own post.
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

Christy Marks

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ajmarks

http://prayforaj.wordpress.com/

http://www.teamunite.net/

AJ’s MAW Disney Cruise – Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas

AJ’s MAW – Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas!

Woohoo! So on Monday morning we docked at Nassau and woke up excited to start another exciting day, this time venturing into the Bahamas (first time for all of us).

Here is a pullback of the Wonder, she’s so pretty!

So after disembarking we got on a shuttle to take us to Atlantis. That was a fun ride in itself! AJ got to sit up in front and got the full view.

Here are a few shots of the resort

Ok, here is one of all of us before changing into swimsuits to tackle all of the slides

Austin and AJ’s favorite slides were in the Mayan Temple. Austin & Chris rode one that was nearly a straight vertical that took you through an underwater tube through the shark aquarium. AJ & I were like, thanks, but no thanks. It was a little much for us, but the one beside it was an innertube ride through the same aquarium that drifted once you got into the aquarium and we did that one. It was really neat to be inside the shark aquarium safely enclosed. (These were not small sharks btw) We are used to going to US aquariums and seeing smallish sharks in those. I guess I was expecting something like that, but these were some huge guys. I think the guide I talked to said there were Reefs, Whites & Nurse in it. EEEk!!! You could go walking in it with them if you wanted. (shudder)

After lunch Austin & I rode a few more slides and AJ and I decided to do the lazy river again. Unfortunately this time he got hurt. We headed up a path we didn’t take on our last go around (this is a huge lazy river) and inadvertently hit a waterslide. I asked him if he wanted to skip it and just walk down but he said he’d be fine. (I think it was the Falls) I had ridden it with Austin earlier and thought he would enjoy it.

However…you knew that was coming, right? Although he was tall enough to ride it, his weight didn’t carry him down it well enough and he got stuck in a dark corner. I was right behind him and all of a sudden just heard him screaming. I said to hold on because I’m fast and right behind you and tried to slow down but crashed into him causing him to hit the bottom of the slide which was in the rapids really hard and seriously stub his toe (we thought it was broken at first). aaaargh! After much drama (it looked terrible, turned all purple I thought it was broken) we decided to head back to the ship for the rest of the afternoon. Austin had also scraped his side good by that time on some of the rocks that lined the lazy river.

Despite all of this we all agreed Atlantis was definitely worth it and we would go back again. So there you have it, our little drama at Atlantis.

Back on board we chilled out and explored.

This amazing chandelier is right outside of Triton’s on the Wonder

Here are some towel creatures….

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

Christy Marks

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ajmarks

http://prayforaj.wordpress.com/

http://www.teamunite.net/

AJ’s Make A Wish Magical Disney Cruise – Night 1 – Day 1

AJ’s MAW – Night 1 – Day 1

Well, we started the journey on Jan. 31 Saturday night. A hummer limo picked us up at our house despite terrible weather and delivered us safely to the hotel at the airport.

Everyone was surprised to see a hummer limo, but with the weather so bad and us being out in the boonies, it made sense. The boys thought it was awesome, but wished it had come with candy! Kids, what can you do? Everything is better with candy I guess. LOL

We were up bright and early the next morning to set off on the next leg of our adventure – to the airport. We went through security and boarded the plane on time arriving in sunny Orlando FL by 10:00. After that we waited to catch a shuttle to Port Canaveral and the Disney Wonder! Woohoo!

The Castmembers there treated us very well and put us into the Castaway Club line eventually taking us right from there directly onto the ship without having to wait or any delays. It was really awesome. Once onboard we ate lunch at the Beach Blanket Buffet on deck 9 while waiting to get into our stateroom.

Upon entering the stateroom we found some surprises. Our MAW host onboard the ship was Blair and he left AJ a Captain Mickey animal to say hello. We also had some special treats from our MAW angels back in Indiana. Some yummy chocolate treats and sparkling apple cider. After enjoying the treats and unpacking a little bit, we headed out to the Mickey pool for a quick swim before the mandatory lifeboat drill.

Quick trivia for you: (Did you know that Disney had to get special permission to use yellow lifeboats?) It’s true. They are the only ship allowed yellow lifeboats. All others are orange.

Let’s see….after the lifeboat drill we went back to our room and got changed for our first night at dinner, which was at Parrot Cay, Table 4. But WAIT! We had to go to the going away party on decks 9 and 10! It was a lot of fun. I got christened by an excited gull (icky), but it was great to see the ship head out to sea.

Port Canaveral

Right after this the bird crapped in my hair! Fun, fun!

Ok, then we went to dinner….there we met our servers that would follow us every night onboard ship. They were awesome btw. The service at Disney is first class all the way. The cleanest place I’ve ever been and the nicest. I never saw a CM without a smile and a kind word.

Ok, I would like to say we whooped it up the first night and went to the Superbowl party onboard, but AJ and Chris were so exhausted from not sleeping the previous night they were out like a light after dinner. Austin had gone off to the teen club, so I read my book. LOL

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

Christy Marks

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ajmarks

http://prayforaj.wordpress.com/

http://www.teamunite.net/

MRI time

Prayers said, hope, nerves and much more were said, heard and felt this week as we prepared for AJ’s first MRI after treatment.

It came back with wonderful results of NED. There is a blip however and that is a spot of radiation necrosis on his brain that will hopefully get better with time.

Here are a few pictures to share:

we took a walk the 2nd day we were there, I had to take a picture of the rubble of the former Hoosier Dome. Many happy memories.

We decided to have our celebration dinner at Alcatraz. It was awesome, great service, food and drinks.
Highly recommend it.

We don’t normally do apetizers or dessert, but hey! This was a celebration. Here are the loaded french fries….yummmmm

AJ & Chris shared the triple choc. cake

All done!

relaxing at the hotel

Ok, yes, we were down there for testing and I’ve made all the pictures look like it was fun. We did have some fun downtime, but the tests were really intense for AJ and my butt got worn out sitting in a zillion different chairs for 3 days!!! Ha!Ha!

And the rest of our time we were here:

We looked at this hallway for 2 days straight in the most uncomfortable chairs on the planet.