I endured chemo to watch my grandson fall in love on a Disney cruise

Favorite Vacation Moment

Disney Cruise Line, FL

by betsy_chapman March 30, 2008

I endured chemo to watch my grandson fall in love

My husband died unexpectedly in December 2006, 3 months after I had been diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma, a very rare and deadly form of cancer that is inoperable and incurable. I chose to undergo chemotherapy to try and manage its progress because I was raising 2 of my grandchildren and they were not through with college yet. I wanted to live to see them to adulthood. I also had a son and daughter - both with young families - and I wanted to be able to share in the joy of their children.

Chemo was the worst thing I have ever gone through physically. In winter 2007, I endured two months of nearly daily treatment - 9 am-2 pm most days, then home infusion therapy from 5-10 pm. I have never been so sick and sometimes I wondered why I was still trying to live. However, it was helping, so I endured a lesser course of chemo through the summer.

After 7 long months of chemo, things finally looked up and the cancer had shrunk and had not progressed further. I began thinking about Christmas, and how I was not sure I had the energy to have all my kids and grandkids - 11 in all - at my house as we normally would.

I love nothing more in my life than cruising, so I decided to take everyone on a Christmas cruise.

My youngest grandson, Ian, was just 3 years old and had never been on a boat before. I saw through his eyes the magic and wonder of the cruise. He had never seen Disney characters up close before - but every time he saw Mickey or Donald or Daisy or Pluto, his face lit up brighter than any of the Christmas trees on the ship.

Our trip became all about timing his meals and naps to go along with the characters' appearance schedules. He didn't care about getting his picture taken with them - he just wanted to hug them and kiss them all on the nose. We have a series of the most delightful photos (taken by cruise photographers) of Ian in all his glory, his little face beaming with love for the characters.

And when I saw his sweet little face, I knew that *THAT* was why I endured those long and grueling months of chemo - so I could watch my grandson fall in love for the first time.

Sincerely yours,
Illeana M. Jensen, age 75

(submitted by my daughter Betsy, who is more computer literate than I am!)

PS - please choose us as a winner. I may live 5 months or 5 years, but I desperately want to take Ian back on another cruise while I am still able to enjoy it.