2 days till a big surgery...

Good Morning Army of Prayer Warriors!!

Well the time is here!  This Wednesday I will be having my big surgery.  Or I guess surgeries.

Tomorrow I'll be spending the day (literally all day) at MD Anderson for all my pre-op appointments.  Blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, meet with Breast Surgeon, meet with Plastic Surgeon, meet with Anesthesia and meet with Research people.  I've been asked to participate in another study.  There is a new 3D technology that MD Anderson is trying out for patients going through with breast reconstruction.  Currently 2D imaging is being used.  I find these studies so interesting!!!

Here is the synopsis of what the surgery entails on Wednesday.  Dr. Kelly Hunt, my Breast Surgeon will be doing a mastectomy on my right breast.  My right breast does not have cancer but because I have the BRCA1 genetic mutation I am at a high risk for developing another breast cancer, so therefore we are being proactive and removing the healthy breast.  Dr. Roman Skoracki, my Plastic Surgeon will then place a tissue expander in the right breast.  On my left side he will remove the tissue expander and place a permanent implant.  Dr. Skoracki will also be taking the Latissimus Dorsi (LD) muscle from the back and place the flap on the front.

The total (estimated) surgery time will be 4-6 hours.  I don't have a specific time for my surgery start time yet.  I won't find out until tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.  I will be in the hospital for 3-4 days.  With about a 6 week recovery time.

I am very excited for this next step in this journey!

Jim is able to take about a week off to be with me.  Our niece is coming for a few days to help out with the kids and housekeeping.  My Mom (okay Jim's Mom too) is also coming to help out.  The kids are done with school on June 1st.  Thankfully Jakob, Kelli and Joey are big enough that they will be a big help to me this summer.

I was sad last week when I realized that our summer vacation plans had to be cancelled due to my recovery from surgery.  We were going to go home to Ontario for the month of July but because I will have drains from my surgery and will be going through the tissue expansion process my Surgeon has advised that I not go.

I ask that you please keep my Surgeons and the medical team in your prayers.  God has blessed these people with an amazing talent - His hands are on me, He is the Great Physician.  Please pray for Jakob, Kelli and Joey that they will not be anxious (I know they are in wonderful hands at school).  Pray for Jim as he has the daunting task of waiting in the hospital while I'm in surgery.  Pray for my parents, I can't imagine how hard it is to wait while my child is in surgery.  And please pray for me while I'm in surgery and that I have a smooth recovery.

Jim will post when I'm out of surgery.

You all are so wonderful and faithful!  I am so thankful for you!  Jesus loves you and so do I!!!

Love and Blessings from the Top of my Heart,

Moni

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