Slowly

Hi 

Well healing is a little slower than expected.  It's over 5 weeks since surgery and I still have one drainage tube in, one of my abdomen tubes. I also have an infection in my left breast. So yes antibiotics.

I have been doing my exercises everyday and I can almost raise my hands above my head but still not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds. OMG to my surprise everything is over 5 pounds. Part of this whole process I think is to teach me patience, yes yes I am a slow learner. :)

That being said I am still going some very cool things for example this coming Saturday; Alberta Health Services is partnering with the Public Library and the University of Calgary Oncology Dept on an event calling "Living Books" There will be 18 people who will talk about there cancer journey, some are survivors, some are doctors, some are researchers, some are family.  They tell there story and you can chat with them and/or ask questions.  Each person is an unique book. I am lucky enough to be going to the event and have a videographer follow me around to see all the different parts of the event and be kind of be a roving reporter.  I also might be a Living Book by the end of the day.

If you are in the area it's 10:30 to 1:00 pm  this Saturday  at the main public library across from city hall hope to see you there!

I WILL FIGHT FOR ME

New and Happy

Hi Everyone;

As you know 3 weeks ago I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction.  I choose not to have implants. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of having something foreign in my body, ok for some just not for me. They took my tummy fat and skin and rebuilt me.  It was a tissue transplant that took 12.5 hours. I know that's a long time to be on the table, but I did great.

So with that process I also lost my nipples.  And I am totally ok with that.  I love my new boobs, don't get me wrong I still have drainage tubes in and huge swelling but I already love them.  

When they took my nipples that area had to be replaced with skin from my tummy, but in a strange turn of events you see with my tummy skin you can see stretch marks they got moved too.  I think it is the most amazing thing because it says to me, this is still me and so me I love them.  I didn't want to look artificial after everything was finished and I don't it's still all me.  Strangely validating! With the tissue transplant all the extra stuff left over went in the trash, so I now have a very flat tummy, also very swollen with drainage tubes.

My amazing new boobs and flat tummy are a gift that I treasure and thank god for the most amazing surgical team in the world.  

Maybe once all the swelling goes down and the tubes are out I will post a picture, we aren't that brave yet :)


I WILL FIGHT FOR ME