Back to Normal

We had an interesting conversation recently that has made me reflect on what is normal? Comments have been made relating to us getting back to normal when this is all over. But what if normal has changed? There are so many differences. I am not going into the details of what we will look at differently, but for the sake of discussion let's talk about reconstruction.

The words reconstruction and cosmetic surgery should never be compared. This procedure regardless of what we choose will never have Lynn feel the same. It will never look the same. It is never going to have her forget what she went through. There will always be a reminder of this experience and that it may return.

Normal is what you make of it. Better to say we can get back to living life the best way we know how. We recreate normal every moment. To be enlightened, one might say that we should use all bad experiences to grow. We definitely have. But from time to time, it is ok to feel what is there and to just allow it to be. Everything is ok, just the way it is and just the way it is not.

Surgery Update

Turns out the hospitals and two surgeons couldn't coordinate on December 7th. The surgery has been rescheduled for the morning of December 3rd (Monday). So, all things going well, I should be home by Wednesday, December 5th. (They did offer to let me wait until December 14th, instead, but I couldn't imagine waiting any longer. I am already nervous enough!)

We had a good meeting with the plastic surgeon this week, rounding out our medical visits. The most reassuring thing we heard from him was that if something goes wrong with the implants, or I decide I just don't want to deal with them, or anything else, he can just take them out without any further consequences. The skin and muscle will all collapse back, and be fine. For some reason, having a little wiggle room feels very safe.

We were also very pleased that Dr L has already talked to my radiation oncologist (a person I haven't met yet) about coordinating the radiation and expanding the implants. I am very lucky to have team of such good communicators.