Quick June Trip

Greg (hubby) and I just went down for a quick trip to forget about my upcoming double masectomy for breast cancer (and then aggressive chemo). The surgery is next wednesday so the four days plus two travel days really broke the time up for us.

We rented a car this time and loved it. Our scooter days are definitely over (the car feels so much safer)! Even though we had the car we did a lot of chilling at the resort, met an awesome group of people to hang out with and just lounged, got some sun and hung out on the porch.

Some dinner places we hit:

Rockhouse: Jerk Chicken Wrap Ups These were AMAZING!

Ivans: Jerk Penne Pasta Ummm, yum. LOTS of food and it was divine. Ivan's has a great vibe. Greg loved the sauted conch too.

Red Dragon for lunch: OMG. I don't even eat jerk pork and got my own half. Of course the mommy dog out front had some too. The people in there are sooo nice and we felt super comfortable. And they DO have the coldest beers! Mine had ice formed all over the bottle!

And then of course two dinners at Best in the West which was just as good as ever!!

We didn't do much else. Did some hat shopping for my future bald head. I hope the next six months goes fast. The doc promised me she'd have me back in the sea by February.

Praying for a speedy and manageble recovery...see u on the rock in february.

We're so happy you were able to find a bit of peace in Negril for a short time! We will be thinking of you...sending prayers & positive vibes! We'll hold the Doc to her promise & look for you in Feb!
L&R

Prayers for strength and healing!

Bless...
Ed

Prayers for a successful and speedy treatment and recovery!! Glad you got to get some time to decompress and relax before this very hard time in your life.

I'm glad to hear you got to have some last minute fun before you start therapy. I know I am not in your shoes but I know alot about what you are going through.
Several positive points you can embrace:
You now get the boobs you ( or your husband) have dreamed of at the point of reconstuction. Some of the things you can do with wigs r pretty cool. You can have all sorts of personalities and different looks: a long haired blonde one day and a short peppy red head the next.
Chemo is a temporary hurdle, I won't try to sugar coat it you will feel the worst of your life, BUT.... remember when I say it's only a temporary hurdle. Your chemo session will end, the cancerous cells will be gone. And you will be laying on a beach all in less than one year.
And I can't wait to hear when you go back to that sea again, maybe I'll see you there.. I swear by it's healing abilities both heart, mind, body and soul.

Many blessings sent to you and hubby! I can totally overstand your decision to take a trip to Negril before your treatment. So glad you had a good time. Prayers are sent for a speedy recovery and many more trips to Negril. Hope to see you there soon.

They have some great hats there and it won't be long before you will be shedding that hat to display your new look of life! Blessings and prayers sent to you both. I have no doubt you will be a survivor! Having retired from being an RN for over 37 years...I can attest to the wonders of modern medicine. Hang in there..you will be back to Negril soon!!

Lizardbeth - I'm glad you were able to visit Negril and had a peaceful time.
Our Prayers are going out to you for healing, strength, and a good recovery in the upcoming months.
Markus & Daisy

As a breast cancer survivor (5 years) I can totally relate. We had to cancel our first trip to Negril in Apr 06 due to diagnosis but was on the beach in Nov of the same year and have been going twice a year ever since. Good luck with your surgery and chemo. The key here is to stay positive and you will get through it. Chemo has come a long way and the side affects are not as bad as they use to be. I think the worst part for me was losing my hair but I got use to the wigs and hats and it does grow back. I don't ever complain about a "bad hair day" anymore. Keep us posted on your progress and if you would like to chat off line I would be happy to give you my email address. I know it helped me to talk to people who had gone through it and could relate.

Your positive attitude shines through already. I know you are strong, but your family here is always just a click away. Blessings to you and Greg as you start the next journey. Keep your eye on the prize - I know you have enough gorgeous pictures of Negril to help with that! Marcia

You will be in our prayers.

Thanks for sharing your trip report. You have a really great attitude. Prayers sent for a speedy recovery.

Don't worry
about a thing
cuz every little thing
gonna be alright!

Healing prayers for you!

Glad you were able to relax and unwind to get ready for your treatments. Hope your recovery is quick and you are back with your toes in the sand come February!

I'm glad you were able to get to Negril for a visit! I took a last minute trip in Jan. 2008 with my sister. One week before her surgery. It was good for her soul. She is very much cancer free now. I will be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers.

Best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery. Hope to see you in Febuary

Prayer to you Lizardbeth. This is a tough time...but you are strong. Beat that cancer back!
If you are interested in alternative therapies I know a GREAT place here in Northern California that does treatment plans via email and fax...Pine Street Clinic in San Anselmo California. Dr. Mark Broffman rocks. (And YES, they will work hand in hand with Western Medicine)

I have friends (yes, MULTIPLE) who have been through what you have been through. One of my closest friends in fact and she is a survivor now for 15 years.

Bless up.

Thank you everyone for the well wishes and prayers. It means a lot. (((hugs)))

Positive energy & healing prayers sent your way. It's very good to build up your immune system when going through chemo. Try as much nutritional therapy as you can....try to eat really healthy foods & google "immune building foods & herbs" This will help you.

Lizardbeth-Glad you were able to make it for a trip to JA..Sending positive vibes and many,many prayers for a speedy recovery-Jah Bless:o

Positive vibes and blessings are heading your way! I have to have major surgery in August and will try to get to Negril to get my head right for that, as you did. Not looking forward to 5 days in hospital and then two weeks off work, but it sure beats the alternative!

Everything will be fine, its just going to suck for a short while....

soft soft thoughts as you travel through this trial

They call it a test. A test of strength. A test of endurance. A test of love. And a test of faith. Draw on all these tests to bring you both through this arduous journey. Your quick trip to Negril shows defiance and you're intention to beat this challenge that was not of your choosing. I look forward to one day meeting you both in Negril as you celebrate another adventure in the land we love.

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LizardBeth, I am sorry to hear about your condition and I wish you the best of luck for your upcoming surgery and recovery...
I would like to tell you that I have enjoyed reading your trip reports and looking at your photographs over the past couple of years. You are a good photographer, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the years to come...
Please keep a positive attitude in the journey ahead...
Let me share something that I hope will help you keep positive thoughts...
5 years ago my mother was diagnosed at age 70 with non small cell carcinoma, lung cancer, stage 3. It had spread to her lymph nodes...she decided not to give up, and fight it...After removal of her lung, some nodes, and chemo, she is today 5 years cancer free...Many things are possible.. I wish you well. --Dave--

so glad you got a negril recharge - hoping for quick and complete healing - all the best to you lizardbeth

sending prayers, blessings, and healing vibes to you.

Lizardbeth,
You are and will continue to be in my thoughts. I am wishing for you a speedy recovery so you can get back to JA as soon as possible.

You rented a car? care to share a little more? Not being nosey (ok, yes I am but...) what was the daily rate? Who did you rent from? We would need a car for about 11 days on the southcoast. We have tossed around the idea for our trip in January but I am a bit on the fence about it. Not so much the driving and other drivers but everyone and their brother wanting a ride somwhere. Not really sure if it'd be more of a headache having people pester us for a lift somewhere all the time and then feeling bad if we tell them no.

I am a 2x breast cancer survivor so I wish you the very best. May God bless you and keep you in the palm of His hands. Your hair will come back more beautiful than it was before that's your prize for making it :) !!!!!

Lizardbeth, I will be thinking of you on Wednesday and thereafter. I hope Greg will post updates once in a while so we can continue sending you our love and good wishes.

I've always enjoyed your postings Lizardbeth and look forward to many more when you're back in fine shape.
Sending love and positive vibes.

Jeannie,

We rented from Island Car at the airport. We got a Suzuki Grand Vitara which was a small SUV and super nice. Go to the Island Car website. The cost depends on age and whether you buy the insurance. We didn't have one person ask us for a ride. You're pretty insulated inside of a car which was nice after hanging out there for so many years on a scooter. I highly recommend it. We did have to call ahead once or twice to ask where we should park at a few of the resturants but they always had a place.

Enjoy!

Hey Rob, if you're reading this, do you think you could turn on the 'Thanks' button? On my photog board with the same software, it's nice to be able to thank people so easily and also makes you feel good when you help someone and they thank you back. : )

Chi Girl, thanks for the reassurance and I'm so glad you were able to beat this nasty cancer twice. I've heard about hair coming back different. I can't wait to see what mine does. It's so fine and straight as it is.

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and well wishes. You have realy bolstered my spirits. : )

Thanks Lizardbeth. I will keep looking into it.