One More Surgery...Hopefully the Last One in a Long Time

So less than 24 hrs I will have yet another surgery.  I had my wisdom teeth pulled in high school.  That was my only surgery until my excisional biopsy back in November of 2005 where my number of surgeries started to grow exponentially.

Excisional biopsy 2005
Right mastectomy/port 2006
Expander removal 2006
Port removal 2007
Left mastectomy w/expanders 2008
Implants to both 2008
2x oral surgeries 2010
Oral surgery to remove tad 2012
Lasiks 2012

There you have it, my list of surgeries since 2005.  Remember, this is the one that scares me the most, even with blade free technology.  They make you sign your life away including blindness and even worse vision.  I've had my fair share of surgeries and my ups and downs.  I know chances of complications weigh in about 1 to 3% but we know how my crazy mind gets, especially when it comes to stats.

I've researched my doc and I guess I need to have faith in him.  Also, I don't know how long I'll live...there are no guarantees in life.  Trust me, my vision is bad.  I've had glasses or contacts since middle school I believe.  Even if this doesn't correct it 100%, I'm hoping the glasses I'll eventually need will be much thinner or that I won't have to wear them all the time.  Please send healing and positive energy my way.

7 Year Cancerversary 11/16/2012

My Sweet Sammy:  How I miss him each day.  He was my chemo dog and  made each day bearable.  He was my sunshine, my smile, my love, my baby, my heart and my happiness.  He played such a pivotal role in my cancer journey and I had to include him in this blog.

November 16, 2005 was the official day my surgeon gave me the news that my so call benign cyst was invasive cancer.  Wow, what a whirl wind!  I sometimes go back and read my first few blogs and can't believe how crazy things were.  Remember, I didn't even blog while I was actually going through it but I guess in some ways starting blogging in 2007 was a great reflection for me, especially when it was still fresh and raw in my heart and head.

I celebrated each cancerversary until last year, year 6.   I felt as if I shouldn't jinx myself.  I sometimes feel like cancer can lurk and attack at any given moment BUT I also know that I've had wonderful care.  I've recently been evaluated by Dr. Litton and Dr. H and I feel great.  Dr. Litton told me to, "Go Live My Life" so there you have it!  There are no guarantees but worrying helps no one.  A co-working showed me this saying that worrying only gives us something to do but doesn't solve anything.

I guess I am celebrating.  My birthday is around the corner.  I'm finally going to have Lasiks done.  Don't forget that I've had my fair share of surgeries but this one scares me the most.  I technically do not need my breasts but I sort of need my vision.  My 7 year Cancerversary and birthday gift to myself is dropping money down for hopefully a surgery that will allow me to ditch my contacts and glasses (have had them since middle school) until I need reading glasses.  Hopefully positive energy will be sent my way 11/20/2012.

This year on 11/16/2012 I will have a silent toast (heck maybe I'll just have a loud toast and have a glass of vino or champagne)   to my 7 year Cancerversary and hopefully will see clearly 11/20/2012.  Cheers to my 7 year Cancerversary!

Chilly Mamma Jamma 10/27/12

At packet pick up this is what I wrote on the banner of "Why I Ride."  

Bill Bastas spied me and snapped this photo.  I'm surprised you can't see my teeth chattering!  This was at 8am and  temps in the 50's!  Two days ago it was almost in the 90's!

I didn't take many photos.  It was FREEZING that morning!  

Janelle snapped this photo.  Larry and Janice laughed because I was so cold that I forgot to mount my bike before trying to clip in.  It was REALLY cold!  

Some of the crew from our team.  I'm with a bunch of young hipsters.  

With some friends post ride.  I'm not happy because I was finally warm.  Deborah made me unzip my fleece jacket to show off my jersey.  Yes, that is a fleece scarf around my neck!  

Nice surprise to spy this while I was at the 21 mile mark downing lunch.

The fallen angels I rode in memory of.  

Many thanks to those that donated towards my Mamma Jamma goal.  All funds raised goes towards 10 local organizations in Austin.  I'm very grateful for Ambit IT, Steve and Ratchana, Paul and Hillary, Tommie, Steve, Alicia, The Hampton Family, Katherine, Liza and Sis Kelly.  Anyone interested in donating can still do so.  Donations will be taken until the end of this month.  You can donate here.  

This is my third time riding and this year the weather made it more challenging.  I rode 45 miles but only averaged 12.5 mph.  My body just didn't want to work properly in the 50-60 degree weather.  Most people missed the first rest stop which made it tough since I was hydrating and really needed to use the restroom at mile 16.  Regardless, it doesn't take away from WHY I chose to ride.  I choose to ride to ride in honor of all the ladies that I serve.  I rode for myself.  I rode in memory of all the ladies that I've known and lost to breast cancer.  It meant a lot to me because we lost 3 ladies in 3 months.  We unite together to honor them and to support people here.