I’m super excited to let everyone know that we made it to Alaska!!!! In fact, I started to write this post as we sit in a parking lot that is located in the small town of the North Pole.  Before this adventure was set to begin, we were not entirely sure if we would be able to make it or not as James was experiencing a terrible cough that was a clear symptom of fluid surrounding his lung.  Thankfully his Oncologist wanted to ensure that we made this trip no matter what so he scheduled James for weekly appointments to get a Thoracentisis.  Over the course of 3 appointments they removed around 4 liters of fluid and James was cleared to make this trip. 

Our plane initially left to Seattle, one of our favorite cities, and we spent a day there.  We made every effort to enjoy some of our special spots in the city, but we were limited on what we could do and his biggest focus was on saving all his energy for Alaska.   

While in Fairbanks Alaska we discovered Chena Hot Springs and loved it so much that we made the hour and half trip the next day to go there again.   We battled the 14° cold weather for an opportunity to see the Aurora. I kept myself highly caffeinated while James slept waiting patiently for a glimpse of the lights.  A few hours into the wait I woke him up to share what I thought was the start of a beautiful show, only to find ourselves being able to enjoy it for a few minutes.  The light was a faint green color and it was too cold for James to leave the car.  He urged me to go outside and take a picture, but I couldn’t fathom the thought of him not being there with me to see it up-close. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I stepped out of the car and did exactly what he wanted, I took a picture to capture a moment that meant so much to us.  I was crying the entire time because it wasn’t the show we had envisioned in our heads and that we talked about, but in my heart, I had a feeling that made it feel so warm and amazing. Then to see a giant smile on his face that I haven’t seen in a very long time meant everything to me. The next morning as we were packing up to leave, we shared a moment, and I won’t confirm or deny if we cried together as he told me that the past few days made him so happy that he forgot he was even battling this ugly disease. The smile he carried throughout the whole trip was something that I’ve never seen, and it was priceless.  My heart is full and spirit feels a little brighter!  

We also enjoyed an Apple-tini in a glass hand made out of ice. ” The museum was completed in January 2005 and stays a cool 25° Fahrenheit (-7° Celsius) inside. Keeping the museum icy cold in the heat of summer comes from the patented absorption chiller, the first of its kind in the world used for this purpose”! This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and as you can see in this picture, his smile says everything. I have cried every single time I look at this.

One of the greatest things about this trip was that we were blessed to share this experience with Robert and Sona Soberanes.  Robert and James are best friends and have known each other since they were in 5th grade at St. Leo’s.  It was a wonderful experience to share these moments with wonderful friends that we call family.  Robert and Sona have made so much of an effort to check-in on us and made it a point to spend as much time with James as possible.  For that we are forever grateful and we love them beyond what words can describe.

FUN FACT:  San Francisco’s population is more than the whole state of Alaska by 100,000 residents.