Jordan’s Journey

Jordan’s MRI went well. She did not like getting accessed and fought the nurses more than usual, but everything otherwise went as planned. The radiologist’s report is due tomorrow, but a preliminary scan by her doctor seems to show stable progress — no new growth (and no new reduction). She’s a little groggy from the anesthesia. Tomorrow she begins her new chemo cycle.

We have good news to share. At her weekly appointment for physical and occupational therapy, Jordan was told that she has graduated. She has achieved all of the goals her specialists set for her. She will soon be fitted for shorter, more flexible leg splints and will continue rehabilitating her legs on a self-directed program. She has reached a major milestone in her journey — and she’s rightly proud!

Jordan and I take a break from meeting with princesses to pose for a photo

We are back in Pasadena–and we’re exhausted. No alarms this morning. The family fell in as each member awoke. We greeted the day with a big platter of pancakes and large pots of tea. (more…)

It was a slower paced day, but no less fun. We spent the majority of it at Disney/MGM. Jordan proved to be the venerable thrill-seeker we’ve come to know and love. She rode Tower of Terror with us, and even made a funny pose for the image capture system. The highlight of her day was seeing Ariel in the Little Mermaid stage show. She’s looking forward to tomorrow — when she has breakfast with the princesses at Epcot.

The family dines at The Brown Derby

Jordan shares a story with Cinderella while getting her autograph

Day 4 finally came — our trip to the Magic Kingdom. For the record, our “rest day” on day #3 was not very restful. Instead of lounging leisurely as we planned, we spent many hours out of the room shopping and being pampered. While Jordan and Jeanette were over at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique getting Jordan’s princess makeover, Luc and I decided to spend some quality time alone together on the links. (more…)

We’ve been posting photos from our trip onto Flickr, if you’d like to follow along.

Jordan gets a complete “Princess Makeover” at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Walt Disney World

She has a princess personality, and today she got the makeup, hair and gown to match. Our friends at Disney arranged a complete princess makeover for her at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. She loved it. The photo above was captured as they wheeled her chair around so that she could see the finished product.

Jordan scales a 20 foot rock wall at Islands of Adventure

She is a child who confounds any notion I have of strength. Just when I think I’ve seen her grandest statement of perseverance, she proves me wrong — and nothing makes me happier.

She attacked her first day in Orlando with Herculean strength. Nothing could slow her down. It was a day chalk full of events. Her answer to each: next! It was a chore to keep up with her.

We began our day with a family breakfast at Tratoria del Porto. Jordan ate her fill of pancakes, eggs and bacon (she has the stomach of a midwesterner). Everyone drank tea (except me). We toasted the beginning of Jordan’s wish and pledged to have fun.

Our first stop: Give Kids the World, a non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life- threatening illnesses — and our hosts. After a brief orientation in which we received many gifts, we toured the campus. Jordan autographed a gold star that will soon be affixed to the inner ceiling of the magic castle at the resort, along with hundreds of other children who have realized their wishes. The kids played in the game room until Jordan realized there was a carousel. Within a short time she had negotiated with the cast members to fire it up. Soon she and several other guests were whirling around in circles. After a train ride along the grounds, we were off to our first theme park stop — Universal’s Islands of Adventure (IOA). (more…)

Jordan and Luc lounge in the stretch limo provided by Make-A-Wish to take us to the airport. She is wearing her “travel clothes” — a pink Juicy Couture track suit provided by her Auntie Lisa

We’re off! Jordan could not be more excited. Our day began when a stretch limo arrived at our house at 7:15am. Jeanette and I were still scurrying about packing the bags while the kids were climbing into the big sedan, lounging in style.

Our travels have never been easier. Both flights left on time and arrived early. And the folks at Make-A-Wish went out of their way to make it easy for us to get from point A to point B.

We dined at ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort. Jordan danced the hula, paraded with the limbo line and got so excited about seeing Cinderella’s castle that she skipped dessert (she wanted to see more). When we arrived at Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel, we were all rightly tuckered. We were delighted by our “kids suite”, with a colorful room for the kids and a plush bed for mom and dad. Jordan grabbed my hand and said, “I love our new home.”

More to come tomorrow. We’re exhausted tonight.


Jordan earns a “magical moment” by helping to check us in at the Polynesian

Our itinerary for next week is posted online. Many have asked what Jordan will be doing. You’ll see the schedule is packed — but its all things she likes to do with her family.