May 12, 2009 - I've Gone Wireless!

Hello everyone,

Well, great news - I have finally gone WIRELESS!!!!!!!!! It has been a little over five weeks since my mastectomy/reconstruction surgery and I had the final drainage tube removed late this afternoon. It was still borderline on whether to take it out or not, but I think the length of time, in addition to having to begin a third round of antibiotics, is what made him lean towards pulling it out today. So, even though the drain is out - please pray that my body absorbs the fluid correctly. He said everything was healing nicely and he is happy with the progress that I have made. My concern to him was that for someone who was supposedly getting a tummy tuck out of the deal (since they use 2 of your stomach muscles, fat and all of your stomach skin to rebuild the new breast) I am now at least 4 inches WIDER in the waist than I was before surgery. What's up with that??? He said that I was still very swollen which is normal after this type major surgery and that it could take another month or two to go down. So, if you see me around town looking like a slob - it is because I do not have much to wear that fits me right now. I believe all the women can vouch for me that we are NOT going to buy a larger size for short term use!!!

The surgeon also said that we would schedule step 2 of the reconstructive surgery in 4 to 6 months. In that surgery they will do the finishing work on rebuilding the new breast and then do a breast reduction on the old breast so that it will match the new one. He said that I simply did not have enough material in the tummy to make it the same size as my original. Although, I will have to go down a size or two in bra size, the benefit will be that at least I will get a "lift" job while he's at it. Hey, we always have to be looking for that silver lining, right? Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will go to see the oncologist to find out what method of treatments he suggests. Chemo or no chemo - that is the question. So after I am able to process the information tomorrow, I will try to send out an update tomorrow night. Afterwards, I would value the opinion from anyone that is willing to offer one.

Thank you all again for your prayers and we want you to know that we also pray for all of you. More bad news seems to reach all of our ears daily of terrible things that people are experiencing. Eleanor Roosevelt once made an excellent quote, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." While that is very good advice, please remember that our heavenly Father is aware of all of our troubles and that He will take care of us and see us all through. This life as we know it is very precious, but we must also keep on the forefront of our minds that it is only a very tiny little speck in time on the spectrum of eternity. Let's all run the race as best as we can and pray that we all finish well. Love to all, Liz