Okay kids...(I know you all love when I call you that.) Easter is around the corner and as many of you know my family is all in Columbus, Ohio while we are here in Rochester, NY. Part of that family includes my 18 month old nephew whom I haven't seen since January, and of course his parents. And part of that family includes my other nephew, Eric, and my brother-in-law, who on January 24th of this year lost their mother, wife and of course my sister to terminal breast cancer. Furthermore, in addition to Easter we will be celebrating Eric's 13th birthday party. This little guy has been through so much. First losing his mother, and then 2 weeks later he lost his dog to cancer, and then just 3 weeks ago he lost his school counselor (who was helping him greatly with his grief) to her own battle with breast cancer. My three children, and myself have always been close to Eric and he is so looking forward to seeing us all. That being said, the trip is 7 hours each way. As my mother has MS, I know that although she knows I'm not well, I'll feel a lot of responsibility to help out with the family event and keeping the kids entertained. I've always been the pied piper that way. My husband, I'm sure is exhausted as he has been taking care of me and the kids for the past month carrying the weight of my illness and all that comes with it. He feels that this trip will be too much for me, as I'm still not quite back to normal. As you all know best, it's very difficult for me to know right now what type of day I'll have and whether or not I'll take a trip to the ER. I don't like going here in Rochester let alone in Columbus where they don't know what's going on with me. And, if going to the movies with the kids for a few hours is exhausting can you imagine this trip? I'm also battling this secondary UTI and by the end of this week I'll be off of the steroids again...which always leaves room for error.

I've asked my PCP if he thinks its wise to travel right now, and I'm guessing he'll pass that decision off to my NS. So, now I'm asking my PTC friends. What do you think? Do I risk breaking my nephews heart and missing Easter with my family fearful of an attack? Or would I be wise to stay close to home and have him come up and stay with us for awhile when I'm feeling better and we can have a better time? Send a gift in the mail...say hello over video cam...etc?

I really appreciate your input and I'm sure you can understand how difficult this is. But I also know that you guys get this better than anyone else I know. So let me have it...What do you think?

- MM3