May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!
~ Robert Frost

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. This is my story of how I faced my risk of breast cancer, the decisions I made, the support I received and my week by week recovery from surgery. I chose to have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston (March 2010). For more information on my 'Medical Team' please see tab above. I also have a wonderful circle of friends who have supported me throughout. They have provided us with lots of delicious meals and desserts. Many of those recipes are included above under "Feed the Flap" recipes. "Feed the Flap" is a term I coined when trying to increase my abdominal (fat) flap to ensure that I was a good candidate for the DIEP procedure. This was not something recommended by any medical professional, it was just something that made sense to me. I think it worked!! Feel free to join me on this journey and feel free to post comments.

Select the tabs on the left side marked Week 1, Week 2, Week 3..... to go immediately to the surgical/recovery part of this blog.


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Time is flying.....

Oh, to have time slow down. I have been so busy with tying up loose ends with my work that I haven't really had any time to think. I still need to pack, not that I will need alot in the hospital and not that I can't get what I need, but I like to have what I need with me. Things like chapstick and throat lozenges (for when the tube comes out) are probably things I will not want to wait for. Patience isn't my strong suit. I still have so many little things:
1. Make lists and shedules for Aunt Dot.
2. Pay all the bills for April.
3. Go shopping for food for the week (special foods) and things I will need.
4. Thank friends and family for everything they have done so far. (Thank you!!!)
5. Write out cards to the girls for each night that we are away.
6. Check JieJie's teeth to make sure nothing is loose.
7. Make a note for the teacher with names of friends who may pick up JieJie.
8. Finish my will.
9. Pack!
10. Read my "Preparing for Surgery" book before Monday!

Well, I better start working on my list. Details, details, details.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Joan! It was wonderful hearing from you! I can't believe that your surgery is nearly here. I can feel the anticipation in your words, and I can also feel your strength and determination to keep a positive frame of mind. I think you are more ready than you think you may be; your organizational skills are awesome! Please know that I will be thinking of you throughout the day on Monday, and you will come through this knowing that you did the right thing. Say hello to Dr. T for me, give your friends and family countless hugs, and keep in touch, when you feel up to it, sister!

March 25, 2010 at 5:11 PM

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