Let me introduce our trip members.
First off there is the girl who inspired this trip. Miss Haylee. She was born at a whopping 1lb 11oz. She spent 5 months in the NICU and came home a big 8lbs. She has many medical conditions. CP, Epilepsy, Vision and Hearing Impairment and Muscle Disease just to name a few. She is in a wheelchair and can not talk. We were blessed with a Make-A-Wish Trip in September 2010. In December 2010 she was admitted into the PICU for nonstop seizures and aspirational pneumonia. She ended up there for 5 weeks and she coded twice. We were so excited but scared to bring her home with a trach, ventilator, nurses and millions of meds (including shots and insulin). Since that time she has had her trach removed and scar revision done and is on the path to returning to her old self. She is the reason for this trip. To Celebrate her life and how far she has come and the second anniversary of that special trip.
Then there is Me! Rene'a. I am the 40 something mom of my three fantastic kids. I am currently in the process of getting separated from my husband. But my world is moving and changing in good ways. Because Haylee has nurses to look after her I have just started college and finished my first semester with a 3.667 GPA. I am working towards my LPN Degree. I am really excited to move into a career after all these years. I think my parents also wanted this trip for me a bit. With all the stress going on but also to reward me for my grades. I am blessed with my parents.
Then there are my parents. We were lucky enough to have them with us on Haylee's original trip. Because of the finances they decided to to pay for this trip for us. My mom (Gail) is a stay at home Grandma so she can be there for my sisters and I and our families. My dad (Don) is a vendor for all the commissaries on Oahu (yes Hawaii). He is there each year for a business meeting so it is a great time for us all to go.
I can't go without the mention of my big kids. Jonathan is 22 and Amber is 19. They are both full time college students and they work also. They are Haylee's best friends!! She depends upon them so much to make her laugh and love her when she's sad. They will be staying home for this trip to take care of the animals and to not miss school and work. They are the best kids I could ever ask for!!
We will be staying at Shades of Green as this is where my dad's conference is being held.
We are already so excited and getting busy making plans.