UCAAN Change a Life Road Trip - Day #15 - June 30th, 2016

Day #15 - A First Great Meeting!

After spending 5 wonderful days in New York It was time to go. Time to venture out back on the road to meet more awesome patients and hear even more wonderful stories. First stop on our route would be visiting another area of New York that I grew up in – Elmhurst Queens. I have fond memories of some wonderful moments there, when I was 10 years old, around the same time my brother was born. I had a few best friends that lived in the area. Lilly and Lisa were on my street, Patricia lived down the street and Sylvia lived a little further into town. Lisa, Lilly and I would walk down the street to a small alley way between the houses and the gardens behind them to the end of the street where there was a cherry tree and grape vines behind a fence. One of the branches of the cherry tree extended over the other side of the fence and we would play there and swing on the branch and pick the cherries and grapes all day. I spent a lot of time in their homes and walking around town, stopping by the corner liquor and recycling center and grabbing a pop. We’d walk to the local pizza joint for pizza and Italian ices. Those were the days. 

So Doryn and I drove out of Manhattan and into Queens. It was wonderful seeing where I grew up and showing those areas to Doryn. I haven’t been there since I was 10 or so, which was over 25 years ago! We drove past the old pizza place that’s still there and to the White Castle we frequented as kids. Ohh the memories.

So after our little drive through Queens, we were headed to New Jersey to meet one of our clients and his wife. We were lucky enough to have them host us at their home. We got to NJ a little early and stopped by Barnes and Noble to just relax for a bit. Next we went and got an oil change for my car – we had driven over 3,000 miles and it was perfect timing! 

When Theresa texted me that she was home, we headed over. The moment I saw her face to face and met her it was like we were instantaneously best friends, as if we had know one another for years. We all went up to her apartment and talked. Her husband Nick, the Cancer survivor of stage 4 non hogkins lymphoma was there as well. It was so wonderful to put a face to the voices and the names.

We made a plan to go to dinner in a few hours, with my cousin Kirk, 2^nd cousin McKayla and Kirk’s fiancé Jill. I hadn’t seen Kirk in who knows how long and Theresa actually knew Kirk’s daughter – McKayla – talk about a small world!! We all enjoyed a dinner out, talking and laughing up a storm!

After dinner, Theresa, Nick, Doryn and I headed over to Walmart to pick up some things they needed, which included an adventure looking for ice trays. We always find ways to have fun no matter what we’re doing. It was indeed a great night.

By the time we got back to their house we had a lot to prepare for since we were no longer going to West Virginia and the Gesundheit institute due to the storms and flooding. We had to find a middle point to stay between New Jersey and Irvington, KY, luckily after about an hour we found it and booked a hotel in Lexington, VA.  

After that we headed to bed. 

It was such a wonderful day, mainly because we had finally met face to face, a family we helped over 2 years ago through UCAAN and our Personal Fundraising Program.

UCAAN Change a Life Road Trip - Day 14 - Wednesday June 29th, 2016

Part 5 - I Love New York - Reminiscing about the past

Today, I had something special planned for Doryn and I, we were set to visit the place I lived in as a child; some where I haven’t been in over 30 years. We woke up and got ready for our day, walked a few blocks until we found a Chinese restaurant, because the one across the street didn’t have any seating available. We had just walked about 6 blocks and found China Fun, a cute place on the outside and decorated like an upscale restaurant on the inside. We found a seat and enjoyed a delicious meal. As we sat there, I felt nervous about seeing where I grew up, it was where my mom and my dad lived, before he died of cancer…. But looking at the smile on Doryn’s face and hearing him laugh always makes me happy and in a way centers me. J As we sat there a woman next to us talked with us, she had heard our conversation and knew we were visiting. She suggested we go to a Broadway show and gave us ideas about cheaper pricing. She was sweet, we thanked her for her suggestions and let her know we were leaving tomorrow… I can’t believe 5 days have gone by so fast! 

Next, Doryn and I were off, looking for the best spot to call an Uber, I will admit I prefer Ubers over Taxis, after trying both over the past few days. J We were driven by a nice New York native who was a regular Uber drive and enjoyed it. We drove through the FDR Bridge and I knew it when I saw it, as if I was a little kid looking out the window of a car. Those apartments at Waterside Plaza were just as huge as I remembered. I could see the one building that housed the indoor pool I used to enjoy with my school age friends, I was so excited and nervous. The car drove up to building 40 at Waterside plaza, right near the Hudson River and the helicopter company that sat near our apartment complex. He dropped us off and as I walked up to the Hudson, I looked across the water and up at the building. I started to cry, for so many reasons. One of the many was because I lived there with my mom and dad, and my dad had died of cancer when I was little, I had so many wonderful memories there and they were all flooding back to me. Across the street was NY Medical Center, where I was born. The other thought that rushed through my head was the fact that when I had cancer, most of my friends didn’t think I would make it to my 27^th birthday, let alone me visiting my apartment complex nearly 32 years later, after beating terminal cancer twice. It was like a downpour of emotions, but beyond worth the visit. 

We walked around the inside of the complex, along the Hudson, up the stairs to the courtyard area. As I walked up there I looked at where the playground I used to play for hours was, they had replaced it with a designed concrete walking area, surrounding it were areas with lush trees, vibrant flowers and plants with sitting areas throughout. I remembered being a kid playing in the tunnels in the playground with my childhood boyfriend ( I think I was 5 at the time) and having a blast. We walked more and looked at the local shops that still remained there – the cleaners, the mini mart, the pharmacy and a café. Doryn and I went in for a coffee, a drink and a snack and just sat there as I reminisced about my childhood. 

Ok memory alert! When I was a kid living in Waterside, one of my best girlfriends’ moms was low income and I would go to her home often for dinner, but her mom always prepared these huge pots of food to last them a few days. Our favorite meal? It was Spaghetti with either shredded chicken or hot dogs with ketchup. Instead of tomato sauce, her mom used lots of ketchup. From time to time I do that randomly, it’s different and a little tangy but kinda good in a weird way. I like the memories associated with it!

Doryn and I enjoyed our walk around Waterside plaza and then walked to a good spot to call an Uber. While our day isn’t quite over. I’d like to say that today was one of my favorite days, because we took time out to enjoy something I never thought I’d be able to again and I am so thankful for that. Thank you Doryn for being my rock and being by my side throughout this day and this wonderful journey. To pick me up when I’m down and need you to bring me up! <3 span="">

Tonight we plan on a last dinner in New York at Fratelli. I am bringing more frozen dessert bites to the guys and their staff – Jasmine Pineapple!! Delicious!! Also bringing Marc and Johnny some kits for them to give away to cancer patients and their families that visit their café from the local cancer centers in the area! Spreading the word any way we can!!

After dinner we’ll be off to bed for our trip out of New York Tomorrow and onto another state to visit and meet more of our patients!!

 

UCAAN Change a Life Road Trip - Day 13 - Tuesday June 28th, 2016

Part 4

Today was a fun but long day. We woke up and went on a search for some supplies we needed. It took us an Uber and a Taxi to find what we needed and 3 stores later I was happy!! We went back to the apartment and I wrapped my bites in candy foil and put them in a cool container. Doryn and I headed out to lunch at Café Luka, well Doryn had breakfast and I had lunch. Marc was so excited to try our bites and kept sharing them with staff and raving about them. He wanted to try more, so I’m planning on making another and bringing it to them tomorrow!! I’m excited they like our stuff, best of all he asked me “Figure out how you can ship these to me!” YES!!! We’re doing great 4Shur! 

The rest of the day we spent about 3 hours at the Fancy Food Show. It was the last day of the show and we wanted to visit some of the areas that we missed the day prior. We stopped by some of the booths we loved yesterday and tasted all we could. I am happy to say that we made some great connections with companies we may be able to buy supplies for our frozen dessert from! We also made a few connections from companies who offered to give us advice in starting a company and getting out there. This was definitely worth the trip to visit this show. Thank you Chef Andrew Hunter for the Suggestion! 

After our wonderful day at the show, Doryn and I headed back to the apartment to rest before dinner. Tonight we were heading out to Fratelli, the fancy Italian restaurant owned by our friends who own the café. Doryn and I enjoyed a delicious meal in their fabulous restaurant and for our last night in New York tomorrow we plan on going again!! Photos will be coming soon!!