Decision Time

 

After waiting awhile to meet with Dr. Boustred, my plastic surgeon, we were excited to make some decisions about my reconstruction.  However, for some reason, this was the appointment I was nervous about...why this one over the other???  No idea!  We had heard nothing but wonderful comments about Dr. Boustred and how amazing he was.  We can now officially vouch for that.  When we met with him, he covered all of my options for reconstruction, which resulted in showing us photos of his work.  Now, as excited as I was to see what the final product might be, he gave me a pre-warning that reconstructed breasts were much different from those patients that have augmentations and boy, was he right.  I mean, who doesn’t want the look they see in magazines after knowing the road I’m headed down.   I left this appointment flabbergasted about what I saw and then trying to wrap my head around that on my body was difficult. 

Lucky for me, my mother-in-law saved my over dramatic mind.  She had shared an article that came out in the Coloradoan after Angelina Jolie made her announcement for me to read.  Keep in mind that before getting this article I was rethinking my decisions for this whole diagnosis.  This is real people, and maybe it just happens to me, but something tells me it is normal to go through a roller coaster of emotions while trying desperately to make the right decisions for myself and my life.  In the article, there was a testimony from a woman who had just undergone a double mastectomy and reconstruction.  The part that touched me was how she felt when she came out of surgery and was still able to look in the mirror and see the skin that she had been staring at all of her life.  This may seem so silly, but it sealed the deal for me.  Two days later we went back to Dr. Boustred’s office and made the final preparations and decisions before my surgery. 

In the meantime, the hubs was dealing with all the bills, paperwork and phone calls (mostly with insurance) that come with surgery.  What a relief it’s been that I have someone here to manage the technical side of this ordeal...so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing partner on this journey.

We participated in our first 5K Run for the Hope Lives Organization...okay more like walk for me.  I don't run unless I am being chased.  Thank you so much to my sister Heather, the Lee family, and my family for your support.

 Positive outlook, positive attitude and good emotional well-being are all very critical components in this fight, and I want to do everything in my power to keep strength in those areas.  I want to thank everyone who has been reading my blog and is taking this journey with me.  The support has been such a blessing and I feel like everyone has showered my family with love and support and prayers.  Please keep them coming as I’ll really need them starting next week.  My surgery is scheduled for Monday, June 3^rd at 6am…wait 6am??....I don’t even get up that early for work.  Of course, the hubs joked about seeing if they had any afternoon appointments available. Obviously, we are not morning people!!

I will keep you updated after my surgery on Monday.  Can you believe it??? My first day of summer will be spent in the hospital…not quite what I had in mind a month ago, but it is a start on my road of doing cancer like a BOSS!