Exchange

Tuesday I had my exchange surgery and I'm home recovering now. Those of you who are familiar with the process, you'll understand what the exchange surgery involves. For those of you who aren't sure what it is, I'll briefly explain.

First, let me just say that although I am a very private person, I have felt compelled from the beginning of my journey with breast cancer to be transparent and honest about my experience so that others can learn from my story. The current statistics are that one in 8 women will be diagnosed with BC in their lifetime. Now, think about the number of women in your life...who might be touched by this disease? Perhaps, traveling this journey with me, will allow you to be educated and comfortable supporting someone else...until the day we find a cure!

October of 2007, when I was diagnosed, I had a bilateral mastectomy. A few weeks later, the plastic surgeon went back in and inserted expanders in to my chest. I saw the doctor weekly to have saline injected into the expanders to gradually expand my chest and make room for implants. In April, I had to have the expanders replaced because one was defective and I had to start the process again. The exchange surgery is when the doctor removes the expander and replaces it with a breast implant. Although it is impossible to re-create a breast after such radical surgery, the goal is to at least make you feel "a little more normal". Obviously, it will never be the same again!

It's an odd feeling, going to sleep and not knowing what to expect when you wake up. I have to admit, I wasn't overly thrilled with the outcome. However, it has caused me to think about the final exchange that will take place one of these days! I know that someday, I will be given a perfect body, without blimish or scar and I will forever be with my Savior! Until then, the scars are a reminder of what He has done for me and I will share the good news of Christ as long as I have breath!

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ~2 Corinthians 4:18

It was a beautiful day...

Yesterday, 18 of my family and friends joined me for the 5k Race for the Cure! It was beautiful day, in more ways than one! The weather was perfect! The atmosphere was incredible as we were amongst the crowd of 33,000 runners and walkers at the State Capitol District at 17th Avenue and Adams Street. I was overwhelmed by the number of pink shirts, indicating breast cancer survivors, and I was proud to be one of them.

Organizers say the event raised approximately $2 million dollars!! My team, Pink Ribbon Passion, raised $2,475!! Up to 75 percent of the proceeds raised from the event will stay in central and northern Arizona to fund education, screening and treatment projects. Twenty-five percent will go directly to the Komen Research Grants and Awards program for breast cancer research.

Thank you, Pink Ribbon Passion Team!!

My family

Art, Stacey, Sherry & Josh.

My friends

Shawnette, Shannon, Karen, Mackenzie, Savannah, Silvana, Colette,

Beth, Rick, Olivia, Jolene, Kassy, Carmen, & Carlos.

Special thanks to Tim, Justin, & their side kick, Katie,

for doing an awesome job of following along

and capturing the entire event in photos and on video!

Oh, and for those of you who knew I broke my toe about 10 days before the race...thanks for not laughing too hard!! My little piggie is pretty sore today but we managed just fine!

Race for the Cure

Yesterday, Sherry and I went to Paradise Valley and picked up the shirts for the 19 members of Pink Ribbon Passion!! So far, our team has raised a little over $2000 for the cause. I have been asked about the Susan G. Komen organization and some of the things that they stand for, so for the record let me say, as a christian, I do not support all of their ideas or views. However, they have been instrumental in raising the awareness of breast cancer and have done a lot in our community with their efforts. I am one of those fortunate women who found her breast cancer in it's early stage, which may save my life. Honestly, without all of the community awareness and talk about checking yourself, perhaps I would not have found mine when I did. I don't know. In comparison, I don't appreciate all the items my local grocery store sells and supports, however, I do need their services to provide food for my family and I continue to shop there.

I can appreciate the differing views and if you feel strongly about it, then certainly you should not be involved in it and I completely respect your choice. For myself, being dramatically effected by this horrible disease, I will stand behind those who raise awareness regarding breast cancer and support finding a cure. I hope you can respect my position, as well.

One Year Ago Today

It's hard to believe that one year ago today, I was diagnosed with breast cancer! What an incredible year it has been with surgeries, chemo, treatments, etc. Never before have I felt God's presence in my life, experienced the support of family and friends, the way I have during this journey!

Recently, during our women's home team (bible study), I was listening to Beth Moore talk about the presence of God. She referred to the story of Moses and how he was faced with going on with so much but without the presence of God and he refused to move forward unless he knew God's presence would be with him. My eyes filled with tears as I thought to myself, I would rather have cancer and know the presence of God than to have perfect health without His presence. I shared that with my friends that night and I've thought about it nearly every day since that night. It was a powerful moment in my life as I verbalized those feelings. I mean them with all my heart!!

Looking back, there have been some treasured moments in my life during this year. Blessings I may not have known without traveling down this path.

Some of those special blessings were: 1) Being loved and cared for by my family, like never before! 2) Having friends pray over me - women who had never prayed out loud before! 3) Sharing my journey and hope in Christ with so many! 4) Receiving so many hugs, words of encouragement, and tokens of love! 5) Seeing God provide for our every need - more than I could have hoped or imagined!

God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us. ~Ephesians 3:20