Final Surgery Completed!

Hi, friends and family.

I haven't posted for awhile; because not much has been going on. I have been working, exercising, taking care of the kids, and continuing with my fun, busy, but generally uneventful life - which has been wonderful.

As some of you know, I was forced to switch back into "sick mode" last Friday 9/15 for my final surgery (for reconstruction). It took less than 2 hours, I got out of the hospital the next day, and I am feeling just fine. I am more tired than usual, have to take pain killers and wear a special brace for 1-2 weeks, but I am recovering very well.

I cannot lift the kids for 3 weeks, which is very difficult for all of us, but Jeff and I are extremely happy and grateful to have completed this final major step in my recovery! As for the results, I am very happy with them. That’s all I will say about that. :-)

Regarding the never-ending hair saga, I ditched my wig about a month ago, and have a new short hairdo. The above picture is about a month old, so you can't see that in addition to being short, my hair is now growing back curly. This is pretty funny, as my hair has always been painfully straight - but it's a nice change, and I absolutely love the low maintenance aspect of the short haircut. I definitely may stick with it!

I know that the hair thing might not seem important to some of you, but especially as a woman, it is very liberating to be "relieved" of your hair for awhile, and realize that you can still feel beautiful as a person. This may seem shallow, but we women spend a lot of time and money worrying about, treating and fussing over our hair.

Along those lines, a friend uploaded an India Arie song to my iPod (“I am Not my Hair”) that describes this “liberation” perfectly, and actually addresses a larger theme about the over-emphasis that we all place on our physical appearance. Not to be cheesy, but this is one of the many positive lessons that I have learned from having cancer.

This song also refers to Melissa Etheridge's performance at the Grammy's a few years ago. She had recently completed chemo for breast cancer and performed completely bald, which obviously takes guts. The crowd went crazy, and it was very moving.

Anyway, some of the lyrics from this song that I find meaningful are:

Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy every day of her life
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

Suffice it to say, that even now – in some pain and with limited activities – I am enjoying every day of my life.

Okay, that’s enough of the sappy stuff. Back to the facts.

As for next steps, I continue to be closely monitored by my Oncologist, and I should recover completely from this surgery and return to work and normal activity in 2-3 weeks. Thanks for all of your calls and e-mails. We truly appreciate it, and are doing great!

Love, Shannon