And All That Jazz

So 2 days ago, after getting her bad news, Iva mentioned that there was a jazz cruise she wanted to go on. It is a 7 day Caribbean Cruise that leaves out of Florida on November 8th. The main problem with this is the cost--about $2000 per person. But I decided to call to see of they would give us a discount, the most I hoped for was at least Iva's share of the cabin would be free. Her companion's we could pay for. So I called them Wednesday and they said, "No."

Basically they have already sold out next year's cruise, so a discount on this year's was not possible. I told the woman, Patty, about Iva anyway. I gushed out random bits of her story. Patty was geniunely interested, but unable to give me anything. I told her about our website and she asked me to call her back directly if we figured out a way to buy the tickets.

Zoran and I talked it over yesterday and we decided to try to get approval for their payment plan. I called today and asked for Patty, who, I was told, was not in today. I asked if she would be back Monday. The woman, Paula, said she would, but was there something she could help me with? So I told her how I had called Patty on Wednesday about tickets for my SIL and she had told me that no discount was possible, but my husband and I thought we could pay for the tickets using their payment plan, so could she tell me what we had to do for this? She asked me if this was for Iva?

Well they had talked it over and they decided to give Iva a cabin for free! All we have to pay (besides travel fees to get to Florida, of course) are the port fees of $285 a person!

Well I completely lost it at that point, and between sobs and exclamations of gratitude, she told me to call her back with more information.

I immediately called Iva and told her. She was elated and incredulous. All of us are, really. The generosity of others never ceases to amaze. Even in these dark times we can find things to be grateful for, which really is one of the many lessons of the day.

So Iva is going on her jazz cruise!

On another note, MD Anderson is so booked up on appointments, we won't be able to get in until September. This will give Iva the time she wants to cleanse herself of the toxins left behind from chemo and start fresh with a clean, well functioning immune system (we hope!)

From there, we just pray that Iva gets into the clinical trial, that she accepts the therapy as the right course for herself, and most importantly, that she is one of the ones who respond to the therapy.

And in the meantime, we have something amazing to look forward to! Today is an awesome day!