Sunday, September 23, 2012

What a Difference a Year Makes! Breast Cancer 0 - Survivors 1



October 2, 2012 Update

What a difference a year makes. This pic
was taken in September 2011. Knee deep
in the middle of chemo. Bald, no eyebrows,
all my upper lashes gone. Oh my. I
was starin' down the barrel of a double
mastectomy loomin' on the horizon.
One week ago today at this very moment, I was listening to Pink Floyd playing Comfortably Numb over the OR's airwaves and floating on a cloud of phentanyl-induced euphoria.

I'd arrived at the hospital at 5:30am and had spent the early morning stressing about how I would possibly make it through a surgery where a large amount of the surgical time would be spent with my ginormous Texas behonkus face up in the air as the surgeons removed the donor flaps from both of my lower shoulder blades.

Luckily I have no memory of them flipping me over, nor of said behonkus hangin in the air, large and in charge. The surgeons assured me that what happens in the OR stays in the OR.

The surgery went very well. I can't say enough about the professionalism and compassion of my surgical team, anesthesia team and all the health care professionals who were part of my care. I was able to leave on Friday and probably could have come home Thursday, except my family care team felt like I needed an extra night of great pain meds in order to spare their sanity.

I've had wonderful family help. The patience of my sweet sissy Khakki and my gracious Denny approaches saint-hood. My other sissy Nannie has also been a god-send and has patiently applied love and solace with equal stint. I truly don't know how I would have managed without their love and support. Khakki and Denny have taken turns with 3am "feedings". That's code for 3am pain med time where they have to get me out of the deep recesses of the recliner chair and help me to the potty and then help reposition drains and dressings.Finally, returning me to the recliner and settling me in for the next 4 hours.

I can't report yet on the status of Second Base. I'm pretty sure Team Save Second Base were victorious. I just haven't seen the "new girls on the block" yet in order to report. I do know that I have two speed bumps between my shoulders and navel and so am hopeful!

The prayers from many sectors, including my online family have also helped so much! Thank you! Each and every one of you who have offered prayers on my behalf - thanks to you and thanks be to God. Without God at the helm, I have no doubt things would have been completely different. In total, things have gone amazingly well and I look forward to seeing the doc tomorrow and having a few of the eight drains removed.

I look forward to getting back to business next week some time and giving you a new recipe of tempting low carb fare.

Thanks for sticking around and checking in!

MUAH!

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I thought very hard about whether to interrupt the regularly scheduled program to put something non-food related on the front page again. (I don't count giving you updates about articles being published elsewhere, because those too are usually food related or diet related.)

But I'm going to be away for a few days. Don't know exactly how long. I'm having the first of 3 or 4 breast reconstruction surgeries on Tuesday morning. Many of you already know this from hints that have been dropped or comments from Facebook, so it won't be a big surprise. But a few of you may not know this and may wonder about my absence.

In fact, this month as I've prepared to be away for surgery and recovery time, I've been very slow to post new blog posts. I generally try to get up 6-8 new posts a month or more sometimes! Apologies for leavin' ya hangin'!

Here's hopin' for more fun and yummy low carb recipes soon! I just didn't want any of you wanderin' away or sittin' there worried say, "Why don't she write?"

Prayers and well-wishes appreciated!!!

16 comments:

  1. I'm sending good thoughts, and saying prayers for your swift recovery. I saw a hilarious bumper sticker yesterday, flanked by the pink ribbons...it said "Save Second Base".
    So here's to that thought, in your honour!

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    1. Arlene I love that! My neice was doing the big Komen Walk last year and that was one of the t-shirts they wore! :D Cracked me up and pretty much encapsulates how I look at all of this!

      Hugs hon! Thank you for sharing!!! It is perfect!

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  2. How wonderful: 'save second base!'

    Many prayers of gratitude for your continued health and continued healing. Hope the first surgery is a breeze!

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    1. DeAnne, isn't that so funny!?!!! Thanks for your prayers and good intentions for me!

      Hugs sweetie!

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  3. More prayers and best wishes for all you are facing. Godspeed, Susie. You are so appreciated.

    Alice

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  4. I know that you will fly through your surgery and recovery with the same positive attitude you always display (and your little Fluffy Chix wings). We will anticipate your new recipes! Terry

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  5. Praying for you, your family, and your caregivers that you have an uneventful course and a quick-like-a-bunny recovery!

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  6. So good to read you're on the mend....with speed bumps no less!!!! LOL
    I think of you often my friend and when I do I send you many hugs and well wishes.

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  8. Thanks to each of you sweet friends! Hope to write more later this week. IRemoved the previous post cuz of typos!! Dang fat fingers!

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  9. Hi Susie,
    Hope this finds you well and recovering well. I'm back in the saddle again in the low carb community so will contact you shortly by email. Best of luck with what remains of your recovery.
    ...Joe...

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    1. Hi Joe, welcome back!!! Thanks for the well-wishes and glad to read the new stuff on your site Craving Sugar News!!!! Glad you're back!

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    2. Hi sweetie this is ESS. Check yr PM at LCF.

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    3. Thanks hon! I am not sure I have it in me to do that contest this year. :( But maybe next time. Thank you so much for thinking of me!!! We are overdue for a chat young lady!

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