The Day After

My lumpectomy surgery was yesterday. Today I'm feeling great! No pain whatsoever! It's almost like it was a non-event. That's how well God, and my praying friends and family took care of me. At least 30 text messages and emails came my way the day before and the morning of surgery, and I'm most grateful for all of them. Thank you for prayers and the peace that poured over me.

Pre-surgery testing (EKG and Xray); pre-surgery prep (radioactive dye uptake, and wire placement - to pinpoint the tumor for the surgeon); surgery; and recovery all went as smoothly as possible. And it was all accomplished without pain - not even nausea from anesthesia! Being the wimp I am, and this being the first time I've ever been in the hospital, except to deliver our daughter and son, I am relieved it's over. God heard my prayers - and those of many of you - asking for strength and protection. He gave me both.

The surgeon removed the tumor and got "clear margins" - a good thing. The tumor was expected to be 9 mm and was in fact 15 mm. It seems an ultrasound biopsy does a good job showing tumors, but only two-dimensionally. Still, the tumor was small enough that doctors believe I am now cancer-free. The only thing that will make it certain is learning that the two sentinel lymph nodes that were biopsied during surgery are clear. Those results will arrive next Monday, April 1, when the pathology report is phoned to me. If indeed everything is clear, then, for "insurance" purposes, I'll have partial breast radiation that will likely begin April 8. That won't be an easy road either, but prayers will get me through it too.

My sister, Susan, in Kansas sent me a gift that sure lifts my spirits. I can't wait to proudly wear this t-shirt.

Ah yes. I'd say my sister knows me!

This 12" X 16" pillow was sent to me by my Iowa friend, Kim, a breast cancer survivor herself. It's a "Booby Pillow," the official name given it by another friend and breast cancer survivor, Andrea. It makes me smile.

In the note Kim sent with the pillow, she reminds me that I was the person who taught her how to stash fabric and sew a pillow case! Admirable talents to teach her? I wonder. This particular print is a design of the Lutheran Church of Hope logo that we had made by Spoonflower. Now both Kim's stashed fabric and her pillow case sewing skills have come full circle. What a lesson God teaches us! When we bless others, we are indeed blessing ourselves. Thank you Kim.

For the next few days, I'm taking it easy. This will be my vantage point while I do a little bit of hand embroidery.

 Linda