The first surgery of the day… Tuesday morning I will be having a double mastectomy with reconstruction. This is one step of many on my way to healing. It is the longest surgery yet. I will not be able to pick up anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks, have drains (tubes with bulbs at the ends) most likely for at least 4 weeks, walk around like T-Rex for a while, and will undergo not only a major physical change, but also an emotional one.
If all goes well, they will send me home that day (because of COVID). I have been told by some people who underwent this procedure that they were out of it for 4 weeks, that they didn’t feel anywhere close to normal for eight weeks, etc. I am hoping that I bounce back from this stronger than ever… but I know it will be a test.
My heart is with my children. This is scary for me. It is really hard letting go of control. Ron is taking off the week of my surgery. We will also have help from Ron’s sister, Amy, for the first week and have hired a nanny, Michelle, for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for a minimum of 3 weeks after that. Would you pray for us all during this transition?
God can bring good from struggle, from pain, from trials. He can bring healing to bodies that have fought hard… Medicine has also advanced and my doctors are some of the best. I know this because I researched… ha! I can’t just trust anyone with this body! Pray for the doctors that do the work… Pray that my cancer is gone!
I will see another doctor shortly after surgery to check on my ovaries. Will you pray for that too?
I don’t know yet if I’ll need radiation or not. The surgeon said that even if I have a complete response to treatment, I may still need radiation. This is because of the questionable lymph node they were unable to get a biopsy of in the beginning. She will have to ask the tumor board. We are hoping for a complete pathological response, meaning no cancer cells are found in the tissue. After this surgery is complete and I have healed I will have another surgery to put the implants in and possibly more surgeries later. I may have to delay the second surgery if radiation is needed. I will also be getting a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (uterus, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes removed) sometime in the near future.
I have hope that I am healed.
Muscles were weakened from chemo. I have neuropathy in my heal (mostly just the left side now) and a thumb nail that looks hideous… ha! I am living! I am enjoying the sunshine, my children, my husband! I don’t have time for pain! I do get scared… but by gosh I am going to get through this roller coaster. When this is all over you can bet I am going to take a beach vacation.