Joyus

Friday, November 16, 2012

NEW NIPPLE DAY!

Did you ever have a really, really bad year?  A year that if you could go back in time and completely erase it you would?  That year for me was 2006.

2006 started out mild enough, but soon it turned really ugly.  I had breast cancer.  Yes, breast cancer.  Stage 3B ugly, nasty, unforgiving breast cancer.  For those that are unfamiliar with the stages, 3B is like a D minus with 4 being fatal (F).  Yes, I was a D minus.  I hadn't had a D since my home economics class in high school!  In school you could work yourself back to a reasonable grade by doing extra credit, bringing apples for the teacher, anything.  I was at a loss -- how do you bring up your cancer grade?

Well, it turns out you have to put in a lot of work:  first surgery, where they remove the cancerous spots (I opted for a lumpectomy even though my lymph nodes were involved).  Then I did the chemo thing which is the equivalent of being poisoned to death every two weeks.  Once you start to feel relatively normal you do it all over again.  After long months of that hell, I got to experience radiation.  The kindest of all three cures, radiation is done every single day for 32 days -- like a demented tanning bed.  It ultimately fried what was left of my breast and left it hard as a rock.  

You can imagine what I was left with for breasts, right?  Cut, poisoned and burned and they sure didn't match.  While I hated the thought of more doctors and surgery, I really just wanted my girls to match.  I've had quite a few surgeries since that time to get them to look similar, but the best of all is scheduled for TODAY!  I am having my (hopefully) FINAL SURGERY and getting a NEW NIPPLE!  

If you have a moment today, please say a prayer for my surgeon -- I need all the help I can get!
Please be kind if my postings aren't as frequent the next few days -- I hope to be blissfully unaware on a trip to La-La Land courtesy of Vicodin! 

9 comments:

  1. Praying for you today. Enjoy the Vicodin!! :)

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  2. Good luck. I chose not to get a new one - not as brave as you! Kia kaha

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  3. praying that all goes well for you, stay brave

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  4. I hope everything went well! Congratulations on the new nipple :)

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  5. Good luck and my prayers are with you. I don't know that I could find any humor in this situation

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  6. What!?!? No more winks?? ;) love ya!!!

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  7. What??!! No more winkie!!???? ;) love you!!!

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  8. Thanks to all for your prayers and thoughts --- all went well and my surgeons are awesome! If anyone needs a recommendation for miracle workers I have a few! I've come to the conclusion that God's gifts are best, but in this case man-made will have to do. I absolutely HAVE to find humor in this situation -- if I didn't I would have lost my mind long ago! Thanks again, everyone! You're the best!

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  9. Mon...great to hear everything went well...you continue to be such an inspiration to all of us...I truly am honored to call you friend! Take care buddy..see you in January!! Amo

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