We wish you a Merry Christmas

Its been another month since I updated and such a lot has happened and its all good.

Our holiday in Euro-Disney was just perfect from the journey, to the hotel, to the weather whilst we were at the park and the way we were looked after while we were there.  Ryan had a wonderful time, we all did.  Miles, the owner of Peak Performance Gym that gave us the break, had a friend at the park Karen, and with the help of her friends and contacts within the park she arranged some special surprises for us like a night at the Wild West Show, a personal meet and greet with the character Stitch and a pass which allowed us to avoid the queues - for once we really did feel very lucky and very spoilt.  

When we left Euro-disney Ryan's adventure wasn't over as then it was an overnight stay in a hotel near London ready to meet Father Christmas at Lapland UK - Ryan thoroughly enjoyed the day, helping the elves in the toy workshop, decorating gingerbread men with Mother Christmas, ice-skating and then meeting the big man himself, Father Christmas.  He had been a little nervous, worrying that he would be disappointed and that it wouldn't be the REAL Father Christmas and only a 'helper' but as soon as he left the cabin in the woods his smile said it all - It was the REAL Santa - he has finally met him!!  If you follow us on Facebook you will have seen our photo's but if not click here and here for the Euro-Disney photos and here for the Lapland UK photo's. (I hope the links work!)

Ryan is excited for Christmas, he has been counting down the days, his sack is ready and there are presents under the tree ready to be ripped open on Christmas morning.  Just as it should be.  But for us just being here at home with Ryan feels like a miracle.  With the complications that Ryan experienced things could have been so different and although we don't like to dwell on that it is the harsh reality.

At this time of year our thoughts are especially with the families that we have met over the course of Ryan's treatment, we feel privileged to have met these families but especially to have known their remarkable children.

We wish everyone following our story a very Happy Christmas, cherish all the important things this year and focus on what makes Christmas really special, your family and friends.  

Ryan's even bigger Christmas Surprise!

Gareth, Ryan and I meet Miles Leeson, Beccy Shields and Luke Tillen at Peak Performance Gym in Torquay

Yesterday Ryan met Miles Leeson of Peak Performance Gym Torquay, it is a meeting he wont forget for a long time, as Miles is giving the three of us a trip to EURO-DISNEY! I dont think Ryan quite believes it yet but we go on Friday so it will soon be real for him.

There is a bit of a story behind this amazingly generous gift: Miles ran a 12 week challenge at his gym with a chance for the winner to take a trip to LA to train in Gold's Gym. Unfortunately the winner, Beccy Shields, was unable to take the holiday and so Luke suggested to Beccy that they change the holiday to Euro-disney and offer it to a family through Luke Tillen's charity Torbay Holiday Helpers Network. The charity then got in touch with the CLIC Sargent team at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and Ryan's name was put forward....

We found out that our family had been chosen for this wonderful holiday about 6 weeks ago but managed to keep it secret from Ryan, just in case something happened and we couldnt go. We have been having secret phone conversations with Miles and Luke over the past few weeks but yesterday Miles got to tell Ryan that he was going to Euro-disney this Friday! 

For once Ryan was lost for words - he said Thank You lots of times but you could tell it hadnt really sunk in, he has heard his friends talk about disneyland and has asked before if he could go one day but there had never really been the opportunity. Miles showed Ryan lots of photo's of Euro-disney on the website and when he was asked what he was looking forward to the most his reply was 'All of it!' 

In the car on the way home I asked Ryan how excited he was as he was a bit quiet and he said he was afraid to get too excited as 'things dont always work out as planned'. Dear little man has been so just to disappointment but I reassured him that he could get wildly excited as this was definitely going to happen! (And I promise to post some photo's while we are there!)

And now we are counting down the sleeps! 3 sleeps to go!!  Huge thanks to Miles, Beccy and Luke for making our Christmas magical and Ryan's his best EVER!! We really can't thank you enough xx

Ryan's Christmas surprise

Ryan was very excited to find a letter from Father Christmas waiting for him under the Christmas Tree inviting him to visit him in his snowy woodland home in Lapland UK (http://www.laplanduk.co.uk). He is very excited, and a bit nervous!, as has never had the opportunity to go to see Father Christmas before and has spent most of his Christmas's in hospital. Big thank you to the local charity Dream-A-Way for treating Ryan to this magical experience and to my lovely friend Shelley for putting Ryan forward for this Christmas time treat. Another tear jerking experience for me but it will be happy tears!

Next week Ryan finds out another big surprise!