Oh, What a day!

It's time to celebrate!! My pathology report came in yesterday just before 5pm. We are cancer free!! Talk about a weight lifted off of my shoulders. I have decreased my chances of getting breast cancer by 90% over the last week.

Cody and I went in last Friday morning to Covenant Lakeside Hospital in Lubbock. Amazingly enough, I was completely calm. Between my own prayers and those of all of you who care for us, God was there beside me through the entire experience. We checked in down stairs and where escorted up to the surgical floor before 6am. I was first in line for surgery at 7:30 so the nurses where busy prepping me. My surgical nurse was a gentleman with a British accent. He kept me smiling and cutting up with him. After he put my IV in he walked out of my area saying "Jesus Christ, Superstar." I knew then that God had put together a great team for me! On the other hand, I think my Dad needed a few sedatives to get him through the day.

Most of the rest of the day Friday, I was incoherent. I remember hearing peoples voices, but not much more. Saturday was less of a blur, but I really enjoyed it when everyone left and I could just sleep. Sunday came around quickly and we were off to my Dad's house before noon.

Overall my pain has been tolerable with the help of muscle relaxers and pain medicine. The part that has bothered me the most is the swelling. The fatty area in the crease of my arm is extremely swollen, and my surgical bra tends to rub on it. Not much fun. I am also required to wear the surgical bra for about 6 weeks to keep things from moving out of place. Lets just say it feels a bit like they have tried to squeeze my medium size chest in to an extra small sports bra. Every new day is continually better than the day before, so I can easily say recuperation is in full swing.

Yesterday I had my first post-op visit with my plastic surgeon. They said everything looked wonderful, and removed two of my four drains. Talk about an eerie feeling. The two drains removed were located on the topside of my chest. They ran from a small incision on my side up and over the top of my new breasts and into the area that separates my boobies on my chest. I would say that there was about 18 inches of tubing inside of me. The nurse cut away the small stitches that attached the drain to my side and pulled the tubing out. I honestly do not have words to describe this feeling. Needless to say though, Cody could see the drain as it was moving across my chest and out of my side. I shiver just thinking about it. It was not painful just wierd.

During my down time I have been reading a few books. I can't wait to start into my list of topics I still want to discuss with everyone. One of the books that I have finished is Apron Strings: Inheriting Courage, Wisdom and Breast Cancer, by Diane Tropea Greene. From her book I have a new question to digest. Why people with breast cancer should be tested for the breast cancer mutations?

Until next week, God Bless!