After first being diagnosed in 2006 with Stage II Breast Cancer the day after my son’s 1st birthday, I didn’t know what the future had in store. After treatment had follow-up appointments and continued living life as a breast cancer survivor. When I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer (spread to my bones) in July 2019, I was absolutely devastated. When Ally’s Wish contacted me I was unsure on whether to accept this generous gift because I have been doing really well. I had a better grasp of not only the struggles of my diagnosis but also the gift of the perspective of living life to the fullest.
Ally’s Wish gave my son (Ethan) and I the gift of travel, adventure, and time in Hawaii. We left on December 19 and returned on Christmas Day. The hotel was absolutely wonderful and was just across the street from the ocean. We enjoyed an all day tour of the island, rented a Jeep to go to various beaches, enjoyed local shopping, and ended the week at a Luau. Ethan and I enjoyed breakfast overseeing the ocean each and every morning. All of the food was phenomenal! We had a nice balance between adventure and just relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Hawaii.
I am so thankful for the generosity of this gift. I am blessed to have a treatment plan that has allowed me to live with Metastatic Breast Cancer. I am thankful to have been given this gift at a time that I am feeling healthy. While I hope to have many years ahead of me, I know that there is currently no cure for my cancer, however it can be treated and managed. This trip gave Ethan and I the gift of time along with memories to last a lifetime.
