well, I am officially tattooed!

Two, actually! And they didn't hurt at all! Well, one hurt just a tiny bit, but pretty much I had no feeling at all! The coloring has been tattooed on both breasts. Sorry to disappoint those who thought I had finally gone and gotten something cool! Although that is on my agenda! (a pink ribbon but the actual design and placement are still undecided)

Last week I had an appointment with Sue Hayden, who works with my plastic surgeon to have the tattoos done. What an experience! We used washers to decide on the size of the aureola and lots of cotton tipped applicators to try out all different shades of colors. I had no idea that there were so many different shades you could choose from. Since my last post one of the nipples has flattened. This is a possibility any time you have the surgery done, so at my appointment we discussed options. One is to have the surgery done again, and the second was to try using different shades to give a 3D effect. We decided to try coloring first to see how it turned out and if that doesn't give me the look I want then I can always go back and have the surgery done again. So far I must say that I am IMPRESSED with the overall outcome of the tattoos! Since my reconstruction surgery I have had a difficult time with the way things looked as far as the scars were concerned, and I can't believe the difference that the tattoos have made. Your eyes don't even see the scars anymore. The side that flattened will need some touch up once everything has had a chance to heal, which takes about 4-6 weeks. Once we do touch-ups I will then be able to decide if I am happy with the way things are or if I want to have the surgery redone.

My three month check-up with Dr. Zagar was also last week and I am so happy to report that all is well! No concerns or problems that they are concerned about! I am so lucky to have the best group of doctors! I am still on a three month check and that will continue for a while still but that is OK!

Over the past six months I have had another issue going on. For those of you who keep up with me on facebook, you are already aware. My right hip was diagnosed with having a labrial tear. That in itself wasn't so bad, as surgery would fix it, but after further evaluations it was also determined that I have hip dysplasia. I won't go into all the details now, but will just say that the "fix" for that is much more involved. After several doctors and different answers, I landed up at Duke. The doctor there wanted to try injections and physical therapy. And although my gut instinct was that it wouldn't help and we were wasting time, I decided to give it a try. The injections weren't as bad as I imagined they would be. Physical therapy started with Kristen Harris from Ocracoke, and after only a few appointments I noticed a huge change. I am super excited to say that less than three months from the injections and starting physical therapy I almost have no pain at all. The numbness and tingling has almost completely disappeared as well! Yay!!! Another answered prayer!

Sorry the posts have been few and far between! Occasionally I sit down to write and end up leaving with a blank page... not because there is nothing to say but more that I can't find the words to express what is in my heart. With that said I will try harder to post more often! This is actually a sort of therapy for me. I often pull up the blog and read past posts. They remind me of the strength that I possess and the blessings that I have been a part of. I can only hope that they touch others as much as they touch me when I read them!

Celebrating My 2 Year Survival Day!!

Birthdays are special... BUT... today's "birth"day is so much more special to me! It is hard to believe that it has been two years. I guess I will say that every year because it is still hard to believe that "I" actually went through it EVER!

So where does two years later find me... Almost completely done with reconstruction. I have never been a modest one so I may give more information then some want to know. Since my last blog post I have had surgery to create nipples. They just make an incision in the skin/tissue and actually just shape it and stitch it to form a nipple. Very cool! The only step I have left is to get the "tattoo" or coloring done. That should be completed in June. My hair in finally long enough to go in a ponytail! It badly needs to be trimmed but I think I am a little afraid to cut it because my curls may disappear. At first I wasn't crazy about the curly new me but as time has gone by I actually like being able to just put some gel in it and go!

My last appointment with my Oncologist was just a few weeks ago and he is very pleased. I think I have talked about this before, but one of the scary things for me is that there is nothing that I can do (other than the surgeries and treatments that we have already done to kill the cancer) to prevent the cancers return. Some people can take medication, but my cancer was not the type that would respond to that. The only thing that I can do is know my body and have anything that I feel is "off" checked out. However... I know that I am a walking miracle! Proof that God is still in the miracle business! I also believe that once He has healed someone that nothing shall prevail against it! I am trying to live my life like it is the blessing I know it is. I try to approach each day like it is a new beginning. Each day is special and should be treated as if you may not have a tomorrow!

I am very thankful for each and every person who has been in my "Fight Like A Girl" support group! The prayers, thoughts, and kind words have given me the strength to throw each punch that I threw at cancer! I could not have made it without my family and friends!

Happy 2 Year Birthday to ME!!!