Serious Family Illness - Help!

[excitedofharpenden]

PandJcritics, I'm very sorry to hear that you have to go through this when you should all be looking forward to going on your cruise. I can't give any more advice, but will add my good wishes to this thread and hope that your father gets better, you get some reimbursement for the costs of the cruise should you not go and are able to look forward to all taking another in future.

 

Phil

[brigittetom]

Hi there... we are set to leave on the Galaxy a week from Monday... just 11 days away. Unfortunately, my father is sick. We are waiting on results of a biopsy, and it does not look good. I, of course, cannot imagine going on a vacation while my father is ill/in the hospital/having surgery. We did not buy the travel insurance (we never do) and of course now I'm kicking myself. The money isn't a big deal. Family is more important. But if we have to cancel, do we lose everything?

 

I need some advice...

 

I've never had to do anything like this, so I don't know. Oh - we booked our flights seperately through Continental - in case anyone has had experience with that airline.

 

Thanks.

 

My husband had a heartattack 3 weeks prior to our planned B/B. Obviously, we cancelled. After my husband got the instructions from the doctor to go home and rest for a month before the surgery, my husband decided that he could rest on a cruise. We decided to go on the first cruise and obviously lose our money for the second cruise since it was past the 60 days payment. Celebrity refunded us half of our cruisefare for the second cruise. They obviously weren't obligated to do this/

[pamkev]

I can not state enough how much I agree with EclipsePearl. After I write this I will be headed to see my cancer Dr. It has been three years since I was given the BIG C word. This is not a death sentence, if you choose it can be a life awaking moment. I would wait and see what the results are and go from there if it was a choice I had to make, I would go. My thoughs are with you.

[Nonna and Papa]

Please accept our best wishes and prayers for a positive outcome for your situation with your father.

 

EclipsePearl has expressed her thoughts so very well that I can't imagine any better advise for you. As a former nurse, I can only reaffirm that should your father receive bad news, he will need time to not only absorb what he has been told, but also seek advise from the physicians and possibly make decisions that only he can make. As much as your love for him makes you want to be there, in fact, the presence of additional family members may act as a distraction, or ultimately just add to his confusion.

 

I don't mean to be disrespectful or harsh, but your active support my be needed later if extensive treatment is indeed required. Wait until the results are definite, and if you can, go on your trip and use that time to mentally prepare yourself for what may lie ahead. An extended illness is also very difficult for the family.

 

Best of luck,

 

Mary

[PandJcritics]

To everyone who has posted on this board... I am humbled by your kind thoughts and your helpful opinions. You all bring up *VERY* good points, some I hadn't even thought of. I appreciate everyone's posts... thank you! I'll continue to check back and update you as I can.

[gojo]

We were scheduled to cruise on carnival in Feb, but 1 month before we were to go my daughter was diagnoised with Hodgins Lymphoma. She started her chemo on feb. 2nd. She was to go with us for a graduation gift . She was to graduate from college this spring. We opted to cancel. She inisisted we going on without her, but how could I? Carnival gave us future credit, which was pretty nice of them.

[land lover]

-No one wants a cancer diagnosis but it doesn't mean the Grim Reaper is knocking at the door.

-

Family members, she's explained, can make this more about them than the patient.

All the best and keep us posted!

 

So true, from someone else who has been there. Often family members are thinking about what effect the person's illness will have on them.

 

PandJcritics.....looking forward to reading about a positive outcome.....

 

Pam and GOJO and anyone else who is in the "fight" yourself or with a family member..only good thoughts are coming your way...........

[travelingmom37]

Hello,

I hope you receive good news about your father. In the event that he requires treatment and or surgery, do wait and see on the timing if you are able. A few years ago I actually took a cruise several weeks post-surgery and started six weeks of daily treatments the day after I returned. There were times on the cruise I actually "forgot" for a few hours and it helped. You will know what feels right for you and your family.

 

As for Continental I believe there is a $100 per ticket change fee if you cancel within 24 hours. I'm not certain if they require a physician's letter, but you should not be out all of your air fares. You might wish to contact them ( 1-800-wecare2) if you have the chance.

 

As for insurance, hindsight is always 20-20. You have enough on your plate without adding guilt to the mix.

Good luck.

[RuthlessBoss]

Get insurance next cruise even though it is an extra expense. It covers more than a refund. We came sooo close to cancelling our trip due to a health issue, but once medical treatment was given, we got the go ahead for the cruise.,, So, you never know!

[dakodacruiser]

Offering my prayers to your Dad and family. Lets hope that you will have a good outcome. GOJO my 8 year old neice had hodgkins lymphoma last year. We cancelled our trip because of her illness. Prayers to your daughter also, our neice is doing wonderful! as I'm sure your daughter will be soon.

[jezzdogg]

My son was to fly out Feb 1st for the superbowl, his wife went into premature labor that morning (she was 6 weeks early and Baby is doing wonderfully) He called Continential and with a doctors note, which he faxed to them gave him a credit for his air and will not charge him a rebooking fee

[DrKoob]

My rule of thumb is no cruise insurance for a trip under 5,000..

So I would have not purchased it either........

 

What a shock.....even though things might look bad you might be surprised at the outcome...my thoughts are with your family and Dad it is difficult on everyone at a time like this.

 

Best Wishes

 

First I hope your Dad is OK. My Mom died last year and we were there by her side which we would hot have been had she passed away while we were on a cruise.

 

I have a comment on the quoted "rule of thumb". Obviously this poster can stand to lose $4999. Most of us can't but travel insurance is so much more than just cancelled cruises.

 

Suppose you get sick in Turkey, Mexico, New Zealand or wherever else you may be sailing. In most cases, your health insurance (especially Medicare) will not cover you. Most good travel insurance will.

 

Let's say you are injured or become ill to such an extent that you need to be flown home by air ambulance. Good travel insurance will cover that.

 

Let's say the airilnes lose your luggage and you have to replace your entire wardrobe. Tux, shoes, formal dresses, etc. The airlines give you the standard amount (I believe around $400.) but you have more than $2000 worth of clothes that went bye bye. Travel insurance covers that.

 

We have done a four day for under $500 and got the travel insurance for less than $50. Worth every penny.

 

Always buy travel insurance. And no, I don't sell it.

[nutmeggers]

Travel insurance is so much more than just cancelled cruises.

 

Suppose you get sick ....

Always buy travel insurance. And no, I don't sell it.

 

I too hope your dad is OK. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

 

As for Travel Insurance -DrKoob is right on. It's worth it.

We thankfully bought it for a recent cruise - I have a 93 year old dad, so was thinking if something happened to him we might need it.

Instead - 5 days into our 10 day cruise my DH got very sick, ended up on IV antibiotics, and we came close to having to leave the cruise.

We saw so many people who were in the medical facility for cuts, sinus infections etc. and costs definitely mount.

Most medical plans only pay 50 percent -if that- out of network.

We racked up bills of over $2,000 in less than 48 hours. ( the treatment BTW was excellent).

I will never go without insurance.

You just never know, Good luck to you

[PandJcritics]

Thank you to everyone who has posted here. It means a lot to have such kind thoughts coming our way. There is not much of an update, except that the biopsy results are delayed. Another biopsy will take place tomorrow (Tuesday)... we are set to fly out on Sunday. Still trying to decide what to do. I just though I should update all of you who were kind enough to posts your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you. I'll post more information when I get it.

 

Thanks!

[arabrab]

We had this experience with my dad almost exactly a year ago. He was diagnosed with a very advanced tumor in February, and we had a cruise booked for the end of March.

 

We ended up going on the cruise, with his strong encouragement. We did have insurance, and it would have paid for us to get home mid-cruise if necessary.

 

We learned a few things: 1. While the diagnosis is a shock, there often isn't a tremendous rush to do anything in the way of treatment. While I'm sure that there are exceptions, much of the time there isn't an immediate decision or action to be made, and good reason to learn more about options and possibly sign up for a second opinion, possibly with a tumor review board that has specialists from a number of disciplines. 2. The inclination is for everyone to gather around at once, but this can be pretty overwhelming for the person who has the cancer. What my dad really wanted was some time with each of us, serially. 3. The person with the cancer needs to be the one who makes the decisions based on what is right for them. Sometimes talking with an uninvolved adult, like a hospital chaplain, can help provide an opportunity for discussion that leads to clarity. 4. Life still goes on for everyone else, and it feels even worse for the person with cancer if people are hanging around like it is a death watch. He loved hearing about normal every day life stuff, and wanted to know all about our cruise and how well we liked each of the islands we visited. He didn't want it to be all about cancer, all the time.

 

Every person's path is different. I knew that my brother would call me if dad's condition suddenly worsened while we were on the cruise, and I knew that he'd take great care of dad. This let me go with an easy mind.

 

Having taken that vacation made the tough days a few months later much easier.

 

I wish you the very best outcome, and peace no matter what decision you make.