2013 has shot right by and for
some of it, I'm bloody glad!
I started the year feeling the
love from my family and friends. Chemo
4, 5 & 6 went by and I started 30 days of Radiation. Damon surprised the kids & I with a
quick Bali trip to celebrate my treatment being over.
We all ran/walked in the Mother’s Day Classic and hubby and I ran the HBF run for a Reason, not bad for someone getting over Breast Cancer Treatment.
In July hubby and I took our
first ever trip away from the kids to Bali.
We had a wonderful time and made some new special friends.
Our Daughter again had an
excellent year of netball, had her
braces removed and had a solid year at school.
She is our Princess, who at times,
is your typical 14 year old, at other times an old soul, born to this
world before.
Our miracle, whilst not hitting
all school milestones, continued to inspire us to never give up. He is such a happy soul, who will find his
niche in this world.
My hair grew back and I even had it foiled blonde :)
My hair grew back and I even had it foiled blonde :)
I had talked about having a
reconstruction and saw myself having it done quicker than I expected. I was very emotional about the
reconstruction. I know I have gone on
about getting new boobs, BUT getting them as a result of Breast Cancer really
hit home. I had always talked about
reduction prior to Breast Cancer, but would never have done it. Firstly, the pain scared me, secondly, this is what I was
given, I was more or less happy with myself.
Knowing I was going to go under a GA for more than 2 hours scared me,
WHAT if something happened to me?? My
right breast cost $7000 not covered by health insurance and was payable (in
full) 7 days prior to my surgery. I have had the breast removed and
reconstructed to minimize my chances of Breast Cancer in that breast, it
definitely wasn’t for cosmetic reasons, our insurance company cited.
August 27th, saw me in
hospital for 10 days after a Bilateral Mastectomy & Lat dorsi
Reconstruction, with expanders. The
surgery was 8 hours long and little did I know, recovery was going to be longer
and harder than I had thought. 8 drains
was so painful, especially having them removed.
I also got burnt from the
Bair Hugger, which was with me for 2 days.
I’m so thankful for my
gorgeous husband and Dad , without there help, the kids and I would have been
up shit creek. 6 weeks , not being able
to drive & no household chores, cooking, laundry, was
extremely tough on all of us.
For those of you reading this,
who are or may end supporting someone with cancer, the biggest thing you can do, is
call and say hi. Telling us, “call me if
you need anything!” is a throw away comment, that only makes YOU feel
better. Being too busy to check in, is
an insult to your cancer relative/friend.
Oh and why I’m at it, after treatment ends, it doesn't mean the end of
someone’s cancer journey (well, unless that person is dead!) check in with them
from time to time and ask them straight out, "how are YOU and I won't accept I'm fine!"
I have had 3 expansions. It’s a bizarre experience, very large needle
injects salt water into your expander (normally fortnightly) The surgeon places a disc on your breast, searching
for the port, once found, I could feel my back pull (remember I have my lat
dorsi muscle now sitting in my breast) he then stabbed the needle into the port
and began syringing. My chest felt tight
after the expansions and at 250mls each breast, I decided I was more than happy
with my new breast size and for the first time, felt comfortable in my own
skin.
I will have my expanders removed
at the end of January and implants will be inserted. This surgery is roughly an hour long and
fingers crossed, I sail through it and get to go home quickly.
Since my last surgery and
expansions, I have lost movement in my left arm due to scaring and am still seeing a Lymphedema Physio. I feel like I have an iron bra under my skin,
it can be painful and is very uncomfortable.
I have numbness in my back and occasionally feel like I’ve been zapped, (nerves were cut during surgery) I wish I could have just one hour
free of pain :(
I now have two smiling faces, minus nipples on my chest, a constant reminder I had Breast Cancer.
The family and I had a great trip to Melbourne to see our CDH Australia Family. It was lovely being able to cuddle my CDH besties.
December was Mum’s 3rd Angelversary. We had her ashes placed at Pinnaroo, and a part of her are now with Dad and I.
Christmas Day was lovely, kids
had fun with Dad, Hubby and I.
My
wish for you all during 2014, be
HAPPY!! and PLEASE let's keep the positive attitudes going. Life
is so short, life is to precious to be anything but happy.
"The
most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that
matters."
- Audrey
Hepburn
For
me 2014.......
is going to be Healthy, enriching & joyous.
A year that will
bless my family with all things good, a year that we will wake up daily and
feel blessed to have each other in our lives.
A year that will see, hubby and
I continue our fitness, a year that our children will continue to develop and be happy, A year that will see us, catching up with friends old
and new and a year that we can look back at and say "what a brilliant year we all had!"
Happy New Year
!
With
love
Shaz
xxx
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