We are halfway home. Five more days until the One Year Cancer Free Anniversary. (Don’t forget the Guestbook is always open @ http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/debbiebrodinsky)
It was late September, B-Day (Breast Day), as Debbie went back under the knife to receive implants. It was an in-and-out surgery. Same day. Put ’em in and send us out. Actually Deb couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital and get back in her bed. It was time for the next stage of the journey. Reconstruction was complete.
At least for now….
#5, Everything is Just Fine
Written Sep 20, 2012 7:12am
Home. It never felt so good to be back. We arrived late yesterday afternoon, I got Debbie settled in upstairs and then cracked a beer! Needed to celebrate just a little – the past five months have seemed like an eternity, or flew by in the blink of an eye, it just depends on the day, the memory, or your perspective. Doesn’t matter at this point, it’s over.
The pain is not. Deb is sore and tired. To be expected, but easy for me to say, its not my body. She couldn’t have a drink and soak in the moment of peace… not yet. Hopefully soon. There are still pain meds to take and ice to help with the swelling. But not one tear. Not my girl, she fights throught it. She was the one who said to the nurse in recovery, “I want to go home”. And so we did.
And here we are. The surgeon, Dr Chang is happy with his work. He described it as, “so, so nice, really, really nice”. He was smiling the whole time. He should know what’s good and what’s not, right? He’s done a ton of these. The man is a breast connoisseur. Good work if you can get it.
Right now a medical halter top still masks the finished product, though we took a peek last night. And Deb’s too swollen and sore to start trying on sweaters just yet 🙂 But from the messages, texts, phone calls and e-mails I received yesterday, there’s a ton of support for Debbie’s new ta-ta’s.
The journey, however, continues. In a few months there will be nipple reconstruction, tattoo, or whatever the decision is. However, it is “minor” compared to the major highway from which we just exited. The ride was one we will never forget. The destination is close.
Diagnosis. Fear. Frustration. Anger. Sadness. Sorrow. Hope. Courage. The list could go on and on… but we made it to this point. Debbie has experienced the worst and is a survivor. A hero. My wife, best friend and an incredible mother. Cancer couldn’t change any of that, just reshape it — but she fought back to remain, at her core, the same person she has always been.
What is beautiful inside, shines through on the outside. Forever. You can’t hold it back, or keep it in. You can’t cut it off, or even reconstruct it. It’s a gift and something you can’t fake. Who would want to?
And who would want Deb any other way? She’s simply the best.
Thanks for caring, Mark