Disney Movie Lines – Cinema Sunday: “All, Right, All Right. Get It Together…”

“Life Lessons…one Disney Movie Line at a time.”

“All right, all right.  Get it together, Tiana!” – Princess Tiana

Cassie and her son

“All right, all right.  Get it together, Ca’Sandra!” I’m always saying this just like Princess Tiana did in the Princess and the Frog.  I really believe that this personal statement of affirmation helped me get through some of the roughest times during my adulthood just as it helped Princess Tiana kiss a frog.

For those who really know me, they can attest to my “happy-go-lucky” attitude even through some of the “rainy” days.  Why would anyone let anything take away their happiness?  Is it really worth it in the end?  Well my courage was tested when I had major surgery last year.  I had my sigmoid colon removed after a few years of Diverticulitis and many, long weeks in the hospital.  Sure I could handle this; it would be no problem for someone like me.  My husband was by my side; my Parents were taking care of my three year old Princess and my 11 week old Prince.  Life would be A-Okay.

I can only remember waking up and not being able to move my body.  I’ve never felt pain like this before and I’ve had natural childbirth.  Wait, I can barely lift my head.  “Oh my goodness, why am I in so much pain?”  No, don’t cry Ca’Sandra!  Where are my babies?  Where is my husband?  I remember hearing, “Cas, hey I’m here with you”.  It was my better half – my husband.  I could only start crying because I felt so helpless.  I remember muttering, “The pain is so…bad”.  I was informed that I was on the highest dosage of Morphine and that I should start feeling the effects.  I guess it happened quickly because I dozed off for hours.

Later that night I woke up in my private room in more pain.  I asked for the time and was informed that it was 9:00 p.m.  Didn’t I have surgery at 7:00 a.m.??  Wait – I need to pump!  See, I was a nursing mother and I refused to let my milk supply dry up even if I had to pump-and-dump.  How in the world am I going to sit half way up to let my husband and the nurse use the pump?  “All right, all right.  Get it together, Ca’Sandra.”  I was able to get the mission accomplished through crying quietly and tears streaming down my face.  The nurse praised me for my dedication to my family.

Fast forward to four months later I was informed that I would need yet another surgery.  But this time I would be having Outpatient Surgery.  Okay, I could handle this a little bit better.  I informed my Surgeon that he would have to wait until I come back from Walt Disney World.  He chuckled to himself and said, “That’s a deal!”  Well, to make a long story short, I woke up in the recovery room in major pain and uncontrollable bleeding.  My family was informed that I would not be going home and they would be taking me to a private room.  This cannot be happening to me – again.  Slowly, I was losing it on the inside.  “All right, all right.  Get it together, Ca’Sandra.”

After four days of being hospitalized, I was discharged.  I went through the same routine to keep my milk supply for my growing 8 month old son.  I couldn’t pick him up or hold him until I fully healed.  I think he could sense my pain and he just looked at me and smiled.  When I saw that smile, I couldn’t help but think, “All right, all right.  You’ve finally got it together, Ca’Sandra!”

Written by fellow Disney Mom & dear friend: Cassie P. Cassie is a proud member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. She is not a Disney employee. The postings on this site are her own and do not necessarily represent Disney’s positions or opinions.