As I sit here listening to the kids playing outside, I am reminded of all the reasons why I have fought so hard to get to this point. Giggles, belly laughs and screaming are all sounds that I love to hear. My kids and my husband are what makes me get through the tough days. Although, they would say it's me that gets us all through.
I have been wound up so tight this past week that I feel like I am going to explode! I am severely anxious...I can't sleep and I am scared shitless of the changes that will take place on Tuesday. I am not really sure why I am so anxious about this surgery. I should be thrilled, ecstatic even...but I can't help but worry about all the what ifs! I am really focusing on the worse case scenarios and I can't seem to change my train of thought.
I feel like I am going through separation anxiety with the removal of my left breast! I don't know why I am feeling this way, especially since my last mammogram showed a 2mm x 1.5mm anomaly. I figured I would be gnawing at the bit to get this breast off but I am apprehensive as to how I am going to look. I know, I shouldn't worry about it...and, I already had this done to the right so I should be totally fine with it happening again. But I'm not! I guess the fear is of the unknown...what is it going to look like? What if they can't expand me to a suitable size? But then, what is a "suitable" size? Why are we so fixated on the breast? Is it just a sexual thing or is it because we associate the breast with the female body...like you only are a girl if you have boobs! Such crazy thoughts go through your mind when dealing with these types of surgery...but I keep telling myself that they are totally normal. I believe it's totally natural to worry about losing a body part, especially when that part makes you feel like a woman. It's very hard to separate the mind from the heart...I know in my heart that all the decisions I have made up to this point have been the best decisions to ensure that I am around for another 40+ years....but my mind is saying..."you're not going to look right." Funny how our mind can manipulate our feelings...crazy!
I am sure I will be posting again on Monday...might be a short one to let you all know how I am feeling going into this surgery.
Be strong, be positive and continue to pray for me...I've got another long road ahead of me!
Friday, 15 August 2014
Thursday, 7 August 2014
Been Too Long!!
"Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome". - Unknown
My cousin posted this to his facebook profile this morning and it really struck a cord with me. I have been extremely anxious for the past few weeks. I am gearing up for my "big" surgery on the 19th and I am so nervous and scared for what's to come.
Three weeks ago I had my pre-op at Women's College Hospital. I met with the nurse, the physio therapist and the anesthesiologist. The nurse explain the procedure to me in full and gave me some information on prepping for the surgery as well as what to expect when I am discharged from the hospital (which will be the same day as surgery)! Yikes!!
So, the surgery which I am having on the 19th is a skin sparing mastectomy with nipple removal (on my left side) and expanders placed under both my left and right pectoral muscles. Also, I will be having Alloderm (cadaveric skin) placed under my muscle (on the right side) to create a sling to accommodate the expander. The surgery will take 4 hours and will involve my general surgeon, Dr. Jamie Escallon and my plastic surgeon, Dr. John Semple. My surgery will be the first of the day which means I will have to be at the hospital for 6am. Before going to the hospital, I will have to shower with a special soap to make sure that I remove all bacteria from my skin. I will also have to wear special support hose because of the duration of the surgery. My nurse told me that I require the support hose to help with the blood clotting in my legs during surgery. She also told me that I will be placed in a chamber, from the waist down, which will expand and contract during the surgery to maintain proper blood circulation in my legs.
I met with the anesthesiologist and he explained that they would be putting me out with a general anesthetic and that they will also be injecting my chest with a nerve blocker. Apparently, this is similar to the Novocain that a dentist uses. The freezing from the nerve blocker will last approximately 10-18 hours and will slowly wear off (similar to when you get freezing at the dentist). He told me that it will help with the pain after surgery. Also, I will be required to "stay on top of my pain" with pain meds.
Finally, I met with the physio therapist. What I thought was going to be a 4 week recovery quickly turned into a 10 week recovery! I will have two drains that will stay in for approximately 3 weeks (which will limit my daily showering to sponge baths). I will not be allowed to lift anything over 5lbs for the full 10 weeks. I will be required to do "therapist approved" exercises starting the week after surgery. She explained that I will be in a lot of pain for the first few days and that it should slowly decrease over time. Not looking forward to being down and out and in pain again! BOOOOOO!!!
So, needless to say, I have been extremely anxious since this appointment! I am also a little nervous about results from my left breast. I had my mammogram in June and was told that the results showed a 2mm by 1mm (so very tiny) anomaly at the 12 o'clock position. This is exactly why I wanted to have the left breast off in the first place. I didn't want to live life worrying every time I had a mammogram or ultrasound done. It's just not worth the anxiety and frustration, waiting for results! I am so glad it's coming off in just over a week!
I am sure I will have lots of time to write in this blog and keep all of you up to date on my progress after surgery. I will also continue to post pictures with a warning label at the beginning of the blog.
Be positive, be strong and continue to pray!
My cousin posted this to his facebook profile this morning and it really struck a cord with me. I have been extremely anxious for the past few weeks. I am gearing up for my "big" surgery on the 19th and I am so nervous and scared for what's to come.
Three weeks ago I had my pre-op at Women's College Hospital. I met with the nurse, the physio therapist and the anesthesiologist. The nurse explain the procedure to me in full and gave me some information on prepping for the surgery as well as what to expect when I am discharged from the hospital (which will be the same day as surgery)! Yikes!!
So, the surgery which I am having on the 19th is a skin sparing mastectomy with nipple removal (on my left side) and expanders placed under both my left and right pectoral muscles. Also, I will be having Alloderm (cadaveric skin) placed under my muscle (on the right side) to create a sling to accommodate the expander. The surgery will take 4 hours and will involve my general surgeon, Dr. Jamie Escallon and my plastic surgeon, Dr. John Semple. My surgery will be the first of the day which means I will have to be at the hospital for 6am. Before going to the hospital, I will have to shower with a special soap to make sure that I remove all bacteria from my skin. I will also have to wear special support hose because of the duration of the surgery. My nurse told me that I require the support hose to help with the blood clotting in my legs during surgery. She also told me that I will be placed in a chamber, from the waist down, which will expand and contract during the surgery to maintain proper blood circulation in my legs.
I met with the anesthesiologist and he explained that they would be putting me out with a general anesthetic and that they will also be injecting my chest with a nerve blocker. Apparently, this is similar to the Novocain that a dentist uses. The freezing from the nerve blocker will last approximately 10-18 hours and will slowly wear off (similar to when you get freezing at the dentist). He told me that it will help with the pain after surgery. Also, I will be required to "stay on top of my pain" with pain meds.
Finally, I met with the physio therapist. What I thought was going to be a 4 week recovery quickly turned into a 10 week recovery! I will have two drains that will stay in for approximately 3 weeks (which will limit my daily showering to sponge baths). I will not be allowed to lift anything over 5lbs for the full 10 weeks. I will be required to do "therapist approved" exercises starting the week after surgery. She explained that I will be in a lot of pain for the first few days and that it should slowly decrease over time. Not looking forward to being down and out and in pain again! BOOOOOO!!!
So, needless to say, I have been extremely anxious since this appointment! I am also a little nervous about results from my left breast. I had my mammogram in June and was told that the results showed a 2mm by 1mm (so very tiny) anomaly at the 12 o'clock position. This is exactly why I wanted to have the left breast off in the first place. I didn't want to live life worrying every time I had a mammogram or ultrasound done. It's just not worth the anxiety and frustration, waiting for results! I am so glad it's coming off in just over a week!
I am sure I will have lots of time to write in this blog and keep all of you up to date on my progress after surgery. I will also continue to post pictures with a warning label at the beginning of the blog.
Be positive, be strong and continue to pray!
cadaveric) human skin
cadaveric) human skin
cadaveric) human skiplaced on the right side to build a sling to hold the expander. Apparently, this is quite a tedious procedure as the plastic surgeons have to connect tiny blood vessels from the Alloderm to my blood vessels.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Change!
It's amazing the difference a year can make!! I have been doing some reflecting again on my journey and couldn't believe when I pulled up pictures from a year ago! It's crazy how you can change on the outside and on the inside!
I remember when I finished my treatments and I spoke to my nurse about the weight gain and how my eyelashes kept falling out. She told me to be patient and all would manage to correct itself. She was right...it all just takes time. My hair has come back fully, my eyebrows and eyelashes are back but not as full as they used to be. Although my weight is at a stand still, I feel stronger and healthy. I know that the medication I take daily makes it difficult to lose weight but I continue to work out everyday and eat healthy (I cheat now and then...gotta live! LOL)...and that is helping me to be strong! I will never be the same as I used to be but I will be healthier...and that's all that matters!
I actually have an appointment with a dietition tomorrow and I am hoping that she might be able to guide me to an even healthier lifestyle! I am excited to sit down with her and go over all the good things I am doing and to listen to her advice on what changes I can make to be even better! It's just one more chapter in this journey. Everyone will struggle with weight gain at some point in their life and I believe that we are our worst critics. Why do we focus on the number when we should only focus on how we feel? I think that society puts pressure on all of us, women in particular, to be skinny, toned to look perfect! But you can be all those things and still not be happy on the inside or healthy, for that matter. It's a vicious cycle that I continue to struggle with...but I am hoping that with some direction from a professional, I will be able to achieve my weight loss goals.
I am coming up on my "two year cancer free" anniversary and I am just grateful that I am here and that I feel as good as I do!
Be positive, be strong and pray for all those who are suffering from debilitating diseases.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
A Feeling of Emotions!
I am going to start by saying, this entry is not a pity blog, it is simply sharing with all of you the true feelings that take over your mind when trying to get your life back on track.
I have to start at the beginning in order for you all to understand my current thought process. When first told of my diagnosis, I was in shock and overwhelmed but I knew that I would make it and that Cancer would not take me. I can honestly say that for the most part, I stayed very positive and strong. Don't get me wrong, I had moments when I thought "what if I don't make it", "what will my children and Jason do without me", but I would quickly suppress those feelings and trudge on! I say suppress because that's what I did...opened up my jar of worry, dropped my thoughts in and sealed off the lid. Over time, I began to cope and manage with the everyday feelings. I managed to stay positive and strong.
Now, I look back on things and realize that what I was suppressing, were emotions that I was meant to feel, that I was entitled to feel! I don't think that anyone ever told me that I needed to hide those emotions but I just think that I felt I needed to be strong for everyone around me. So, to show those emotions and share those feelings, I felt that I would be upsetting my family and friends...and I just didn't know if they could handle that. I am now discovering that I should have "let" myself feel the way I wanted to and cry when I needed to cry, and not feel guilty.
For the past three weeks, I have been dealing with unexplained emotions. I am irritable, teary, sad and feel like I could be a little depressed. I didn't want to let these feelings go on any longer without seeking advice from my family doctor. Today, I had an appointment with her and she explained to me that even though a year has passed since I finished treatment, I can still experience "side effects" from my cancer journey. She is also convinced that a lot of this "change in mood" is a result of my hormones being suppressed by the Tamoxifen. I am typically not a depressed person and I have never experienced any of these feelings before. So, to feel this all now, is a bit of a slap in the face. Not something that I would have ever thought I would have to deal with. Although she does not think I am depressed, par say, she feels that I may need to talk to someone outside of my circle of family and friends. The fact, that it is probably from my hormones, a self help book may be just enough to get me through this little bump. So she recommended a book called "Mind Over Mood". So, off to the book store I go!! :)
I think that we are always too hard on ourselves and don't want to burden people with our problems. It is only human nature to want to share things and feel emotion. It is not something that you should feel guilty about or ashamed. You should feel relief and happiness that you have recognized a problem and are open to fixing it, to make your life better.
I am waiting to hear back from my Plastic Surgeon on my next surgery date. It could possibly be August 19! Looking forward to getting my other breast off and starting the expanding process. My skin is doing great and has accepted the fat transfers very well! Happy, happy, happy!!
Stay positive, be strong and continue to pray for all those who suffer with debilitating diseases such as Cancer, Depression, Anxiety, Fibro and many many more! May God keep all of you in his safe hands :)
I have to start at the beginning in order for you all to understand my current thought process. When first told of my diagnosis, I was in shock and overwhelmed but I knew that I would make it and that Cancer would not take me. I can honestly say that for the most part, I stayed very positive and strong. Don't get me wrong, I had moments when I thought "what if I don't make it", "what will my children and Jason do without me", but I would quickly suppress those feelings and trudge on! I say suppress because that's what I did...opened up my jar of worry, dropped my thoughts in and sealed off the lid. Over time, I began to cope and manage with the everyday feelings. I managed to stay positive and strong.
Now, I look back on things and realize that what I was suppressing, were emotions that I was meant to feel, that I was entitled to feel! I don't think that anyone ever told me that I needed to hide those emotions but I just think that I felt I needed to be strong for everyone around me. So, to show those emotions and share those feelings, I felt that I would be upsetting my family and friends...and I just didn't know if they could handle that. I am now discovering that I should have "let" myself feel the way I wanted to and cry when I needed to cry, and not feel guilty.
For the past three weeks, I have been dealing with unexplained emotions. I am irritable, teary, sad and feel like I could be a little depressed. I didn't want to let these feelings go on any longer without seeking advice from my family doctor. Today, I had an appointment with her and she explained to me that even though a year has passed since I finished treatment, I can still experience "side effects" from my cancer journey. She is also convinced that a lot of this "change in mood" is a result of my hormones being suppressed by the Tamoxifen. I am typically not a depressed person and I have never experienced any of these feelings before. So, to feel this all now, is a bit of a slap in the face. Not something that I would have ever thought I would have to deal with. Although she does not think I am depressed, par say, she feels that I may need to talk to someone outside of my circle of family and friends. The fact, that it is probably from my hormones, a self help book may be just enough to get me through this little bump. So she recommended a book called "Mind Over Mood". So, off to the book store I go!! :)
I think that we are always too hard on ourselves and don't want to burden people with our problems. It is only human nature to want to share things and feel emotion. It is not something that you should feel guilty about or ashamed. You should feel relief and happiness that you have recognized a problem and are open to fixing it, to make your life better.
I am waiting to hear back from my Plastic Surgeon on my next surgery date. It could possibly be August 19! Looking forward to getting my other breast off and starting the expanding process. My skin is doing great and has accepted the fat transfers very well! Happy, happy, happy!!
Stay positive, be strong and continue to pray for all those who suffer with debilitating diseases such as Cancer, Depression, Anxiety, Fibro and many many more! May God keep all of you in his safe hands :)
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Second And Final Fat Transfer!!
****WARNING PICTURES****
Well, I am back from a much needed and overdue vacation with
my family! I feel refreshed, relaxed and
blessed.
We booked a trip to an all inclusive in Cuba for 7
days. We had a fabulous time…enjoying
the sun, heat and surf…the food was a little to be desired but overall, it was
so worth the money. Our goal was to get
away from all this snow and cold and basically relax…which, is exactly what we
did! We didn’t go on any excursions and
only saw one show at the resort. We were
in bed every night by 10 and up by 7…with no one to tell us we had to be here
or there by a certain time. It was amazing!! We arrived home from our vacation on Saturday
and geared ourselves up for my next surgery on Tuesday.
My surgery was scheduled for 9:50AM on Tuesday, April
8. I was told to be there for 8:15AM for
registration. We figured that if we left
the house by 6:30AM that would be more than enough time to get us there for my
appointment. Little did we know, when we
woke up, there would be a snow storm…what the heck? April 8 and a snow storm!! The traffic was brutal but we managed to make
it there for 8:00AM…holding our breath all the way because Jason forgot to put
gas in the car and our light was on, half way there! Geeze, this guy...he likes to make me panic!
LOL
Anywho, we arrived on time and the nurses took me in right
away, which I wasn’t expecting. Dr.
Semple came to see me around 9:00AM and said we would be starting shortly. So after he placed his reference points on me
with a marker, I was sent out to the waiting area to wait for the
anesthesiologist. Once I was asked a
million and one questions, I was taken in to the surgery room and quickly put
under…no pussy footin' around with them! :)
I woke up approximately two hours after I went in and was in
the most excruciating pain! I was really
nervous going into this surgery, for some reason. I guess I was anticipating the pain. The nurses were so good with me and gave me
lots of good meds to keep me comfortable.
I slept for about another hour before they let Jason and the boys come
in to see me. They didn’t stay long
because I was so drugged up, it didn’t make sense for them to just stand there
watching me sleep. The doctor came in to
see how I was and tell me that they took more fat this time…which meant they
had more to inject into my mastectomy sight.
This would explain the extra pain that I felt this time around. I guess they figured it was my last fat
transfer so they wanted to make the best of it! I was finally discharged at 2:45PM.
Over the past couple of days, I have been in a lot of pain…oxycodone
has been my best friend! ;) Today, I am
feeling weak and uncomfortable. I have
a lot of bruising and swelling in my abdomen and my chest wall is feeling really tight and
bruised. I am not sure if you can see from
the photos or not, but I now have a small “mound” in my breast sight. (my tan is camouflaging a lot of the bruising) Looks like this is working for me!! YAY!!! The doctors are quite pleased with my
progress and how far my skin has come since the last procedure in January.
I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Semple on April 16
and hopefully will be given my surgery date for the removal of my other breast
and insertion of expanders. At this
point, I am not looking forward to this surgery as I am tired of being in pain
and discomfort. But, I can’t give up now…it
will all be over before I know it! J
Be positive, be strong and continue to pray! Also, be kind to one another…it’s anti-bullying
week and it’s so important to spread kindness throughout the world! There are a lot of kind people in the world…if
you can’t find one, be one!
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Life Is So Precious!!
Jason and I sat in the hot tub tonight discussing the unfortunate events that have been happening to us and the people we love. It sounds a bit like a downer of a conversation but it really wasn't, it was more of an enlightening experience.
We were told today about someone close to us that was diagnosed with a brain tumor. They were given 6 months to a year to live. Six months with no Chemo and a year with aggressive Chemo. Both Jason and I reflected on how we would feel if we were given that news and how we would deal with it. Would you take the 6 months and live every day to the fullest or would you take the aggressive Chemo and hopefully live a year? That year would be miserable...you would be sick, weak and fighting for something that you know wasn't meant to be. What a terrible decision for someone to be faced with.
I know this sounds like a depressing blog, to be discussing death and decisions that some people have to make. But really, it's not. It made me think about my Mom and Dad and how much I miss them. It made me think about their deaths and how hard it was for me. I watched my Dad deteriorate, over a year, to 98lbs...he didn't eat, didn't drink and he couldn't talk. It was so hard to see that but I believe God was preparing me for his death. Because when Dad died, although it was hard, I also felt that it was a blessing because I couldn't stand seeing him suffer any longer. Losing Mom was totally different...quick and unexpected. I didn't get the chance to prepare myself for losing her. I think both were really hard to deal with but I was thankful that I had the time with Dad to say goodbye. Just wish I had more time with Mom...more time to prepare.
My parents were so loving, kind and beautiful. They loved each other like no other...they loved us like no other. Dad was the typical father...got up, went to work (he was self employed) and would come home and relax on the couch after dinner. He was always helping other people and loved when friends would come over for a visit and what was supposed to be a short visit, ended up being a kitchen party full of laughter, song and drink! Mom was a loving mother. I remember getting ready for school in the morning and always kissing her goodbye. When I would arrive home after school, I would run to the house to give her a kiss again. She taught me so much...I'm not sure if she realized how much I actually learned from her. How to bake, sew, paint, wallpaper and style hair! But most importantly, my parents taught me how to love, care for other people, and have strength to get through whatever I am faced with. I am honored to be their daughter!
So what started as a very deep and depressing conversation, turned into an evening of remembering all the wonderful things about my parents. I don't really sit and think about it, but I really should take the time to reminisce about them...it makes me smile :)
Live fully...the most important things in life cannot be seen but must be felt with the heart...be kind and generous...simplify.....have patience and compassion....be grateful for the gifts you've been given...challenge yourself....inspire someone....take the road less traveled....it's never too late!
I feel blessed, strong, proud and loved!
We were told today about someone close to us that was diagnosed with a brain tumor. They were given 6 months to a year to live. Six months with no Chemo and a year with aggressive Chemo. Both Jason and I reflected on how we would feel if we were given that news and how we would deal with it. Would you take the 6 months and live every day to the fullest or would you take the aggressive Chemo and hopefully live a year? That year would be miserable...you would be sick, weak and fighting for something that you know wasn't meant to be. What a terrible decision for someone to be faced with.
I know this sounds like a depressing blog, to be discussing death and decisions that some people have to make. But really, it's not. It made me think about my Mom and Dad and how much I miss them. It made me think about their deaths and how hard it was for me. I watched my Dad deteriorate, over a year, to 98lbs...he didn't eat, didn't drink and he couldn't talk. It was so hard to see that but I believe God was preparing me for his death. Because when Dad died, although it was hard, I also felt that it was a blessing because I couldn't stand seeing him suffer any longer. Losing Mom was totally different...quick and unexpected. I didn't get the chance to prepare myself for losing her. I think both were really hard to deal with but I was thankful that I had the time with Dad to say goodbye. Just wish I had more time with Mom...more time to prepare.
My parents were so loving, kind and beautiful. They loved each other like no other...they loved us like no other. Dad was the typical father...got up, went to work (he was self employed) and would come home and relax on the couch after dinner. He was always helping other people and loved when friends would come over for a visit and what was supposed to be a short visit, ended up being a kitchen party full of laughter, song and drink! Mom was a loving mother. I remember getting ready for school in the morning and always kissing her goodbye. When I would arrive home after school, I would run to the house to give her a kiss again. She taught me so much...I'm not sure if she realized how much I actually learned from her. How to bake, sew, paint, wallpaper and style hair! But most importantly, my parents taught me how to love, care for other people, and have strength to get through whatever I am faced with. I am honored to be their daughter!
So what started as a very deep and depressing conversation, turned into an evening of remembering all the wonderful things about my parents. I don't really sit and think about it, but I really should take the time to reminisce about them...it makes me smile :)
Live fully...the most important things in life cannot be seen but must be felt with the heart...be kind and generous...simplify.....have patience and compassion....be grateful for the gifts you've been given...challenge yourself....inspire someone....take the road less traveled....it's never too late!
I feel blessed, strong, proud and loved!
Saturday, 8 March 2014
It's Been A While...For Good Reason!!
Sorry I haven't written anything in a long time. We have been so busy with family things that I just didn't have the energy to sit down and write anything. I know a lot of you have been wondering how my appointments have been going and I apologize for not updating you all sooner.
On Family Day, February 16, Jason's uncle took his life. We are still in shock and can't even comprehend why someone, that was so loved, would do this. When we received the call, late that Monday night, our hearts sank with grief. We were stunned and in such disbelief that this could happen.
Marcel was such a fun loving, caring, life of the party kind of guy! He and his wife Leslie were kind enough to open their home to Jason and I when we first moved to Ontario. Before venturing off on our own, we lived with the two of them and their lovely daughter Madeline and their new born son, Evan. When Jason finished school, Marcel gave him a job with his engineering company in Mississauga. While working for Marcel, Jason was contracted to another company who eventually hired him full time. Marcel sold the company and moved on himself. We started to lose touch with him but always tried to include him in our lives. He was a great guy to be around and could always put a smile on your face!! He will be greatly missed.
We are starting to feel like we spend our days at a hospital...waiting for doctors, waiting for test results...it is overwhelming sometimes. I had my appointment with my new General Surgeon at Woman's College Hospital, Dr. Escallon. He seems to be quite knowledgeable and has done many surgeries like mine. I asked him what the procedure would be and he explained that basically he would remove all the tissue and glands from my "good" breast and send it to pathology for analysis. (just to be sure there is no Cancer present) This is called a skin sparing mastectomy. Once he is finished with that part of the surgery, my plastic surgeon will take over and insert the expander, to eventually accommodate an implant. Dr. Escallon is also going to remove my nipple, as I am going to have them tattooed on, at a later date. Now, I just have to wait for my surgery date. The problem may be trying to coordinate with my plastic surgeon because they don't do surgery on the same days...so someone is going to have to give up their golf day!! LOL I think I'm worth it! :)
We have also been running to the doctor for Jason, Keil and Cole. It just seems like every second day we have an appointment. Jason is getting tests done so that he might possibly be able to get a surgery to help relieve his heartburn. He has had it most of his life and we are worried that there may be damage in his esophagus. So he has been traveling between Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. Cole had his allergy tests redone and he also had to go see his specialist at Sick Kids in Hamilton. The lymphangioma that he was born with has come back. He had surgery on it when he was 2 months old. The specialist said to "watch it" and if it gets worse, he may consider doing surgery again. ...and Keil has been having stomach issues so we have been doing tests and seeing doctors for that. We now have a referral to a Kidney Specialist for him because an ultrasound showed spots on his kidney's and his urine test showed protein spillage. It just never seems to end...medical issues that is!
So, my next appointment is on April 8th. I will have my second fat transfer done and then I will be ready for the big surgery...which I am still waiting for the appointment date. (the one where someone has to give up a golf day ;)
Be positive, be strong and continue to pray for all the lost souls. May they find the peace, strength and love they are looking for.
On Family Day, February 16, Jason's uncle took his life. We are still in shock and can't even comprehend why someone, that was so loved, would do this. When we received the call, late that Monday night, our hearts sank with grief. We were stunned and in such disbelief that this could happen.
Marcel was such a fun loving, caring, life of the party kind of guy! He and his wife Leslie were kind enough to open their home to Jason and I when we first moved to Ontario. Before venturing off on our own, we lived with the two of them and their lovely daughter Madeline and their new born son, Evan. When Jason finished school, Marcel gave him a job with his engineering company in Mississauga. While working for Marcel, Jason was contracted to another company who eventually hired him full time. Marcel sold the company and moved on himself. We started to lose touch with him but always tried to include him in our lives. He was a great guy to be around and could always put a smile on your face!! He will be greatly missed.
We are starting to feel like we spend our days at a hospital...waiting for doctors, waiting for test results...it is overwhelming sometimes. I had my appointment with my new General Surgeon at Woman's College Hospital, Dr. Escallon. He seems to be quite knowledgeable and has done many surgeries like mine. I asked him what the procedure would be and he explained that basically he would remove all the tissue and glands from my "good" breast and send it to pathology for analysis. (just to be sure there is no Cancer present) This is called a skin sparing mastectomy. Once he is finished with that part of the surgery, my plastic surgeon will take over and insert the expander, to eventually accommodate an implant. Dr. Escallon is also going to remove my nipple, as I am going to have them tattooed on, at a later date. Now, I just have to wait for my surgery date. The problem may be trying to coordinate with my plastic surgeon because they don't do surgery on the same days...so someone is going to have to give up their golf day!! LOL I think I'm worth it! :)
We have also been running to the doctor for Jason, Keil and Cole. It just seems like every second day we have an appointment. Jason is getting tests done so that he might possibly be able to get a surgery to help relieve his heartburn. He has had it most of his life and we are worried that there may be damage in his esophagus. So he has been traveling between Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. Cole had his allergy tests redone and he also had to go see his specialist at Sick Kids in Hamilton. The lymphangioma that he was born with has come back. He had surgery on it when he was 2 months old. The specialist said to "watch it" and if it gets worse, he may consider doing surgery again. ...and Keil has been having stomach issues so we have been doing tests and seeing doctors for that. We now have a referral to a Kidney Specialist for him because an ultrasound showed spots on his kidney's and his urine test showed protein spillage. It just never seems to end...medical issues that is!
So, my next appointment is on April 8th. I will have my second fat transfer done and then I will be ready for the big surgery...which I am still waiting for the appointment date. (the one where someone has to give up a golf day ;)
Be positive, be strong and continue to pray for all the lost souls. May they find the peace, strength and love they are looking for.
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