Appointment with Plastic Surgeon

Interesting morning.  As Marty and I are heading down the hallway to the Plastics and Wound Care Clinic, I'm thinking to myself, "I am actually making a choice to remove a life-giving part of my body, part of my self, part of what makes me a women, a mother, a lover."  Intellectually, I know, that there is something in there, also, that would kill me, that I am an eternal being, confined for the moment in this earthly shell, and that, as Marty said to me, "You are so much more than your body."  I'm glad I have a few weeks to come to terms with this choice.  This is harder than I ever imagined.

Dr. Salt, my plastic surgeon, agrees with Dr. Soballe's recommendation to do a mastectomy of the left breast, remove the sentinel lymph node and biopsy it, then go from there with the results of the biospy, and that will leave us with many options for reconstruction.  I feel confident about that decision.

Thank you, Marty, for your loyalty, strength and devotion to me.  You are my faithful warrior and friend.

Thank you, Hannah, for being an amazing first responder.  You are a true healer.

Thank you, Mom, for showing what it looks like to be a strong women, and for being available and ready to care for me, still.

Thank you, Dad, for being my life-long protector and greatest advocate.

Thank you, my friends and prayer-warriors.  No matter where you are in this world,  I need you more than ever.

Reading can be a great source of hope, insight, knowledge, laughter, and encouragement.  This is what I read this morning: 

When we choose to have a grateful heart in not-so-great circumstances--then the peace of God comes and takes us into "protective custody." It stands guard at the door of our heart, transcending, surpassing, and confounding our own human understanding, bringing us peace. ~Joanna Weaver