We Walked

Look at my beautiful family! I love you guys! We walked together in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure last weekend. It was a very emotional day, bitter sweet - so awesome to see the "sea of pink" with thousands of people showing their support, at the same time I was reminded of all the women who have lost their battle to this horrible disease. Lots of tears, but I'm glad I did it. I met some of my Young Survival Coalition friends there. We walked in the survivor's parade after the race. I will be honest and say that I don't really feel like a survivor yet. I am glad to have survived four rounds of chemo. I am thankful to be alive. I will feel so much better after I make it through the first year without a recurrence, then, each year after that. After I hit the five year mark I'm sure I'll feel safer, but even that's not a guarantee. I think my friend Maria said it best, "I won't feel like a survivor until I hold my grandchildren".

3 Month Update

I saw my oncologist last week. Everything looks good. He did some blood work, which came back fine. I have the green light to get started with reconstruction! I don't have to wait until fall. So, I need to get in touch with the plastic surgeon, have a consult, pre-op and surgery to put the expanders in. I chose one of the top plastic surgeons in Seattle who specializes in breast reconstruction. He works closely with my breast surgeon. The expander is basically an empty implant that is placed under the pec muscle. Each week it is filled with a bit more saline and over time the pec muscle stretches out. After that process is complete I'll have a "swap out" surgery. After all I've been through this seems pretty easy. By this time next year I should have the new "girls".