MY JOURNALING:
It's day four since my double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. It's time for me to start
journaling my thoughts and experiences with this challenge that me and my family have to face.
Leading up to the surgery I was quite peaceful. Heavenly Father blessed me with that, I have no
doubt. I know that all will be well. And I've been saying that from the beginning that it's just a big old
hassle and that's it.
Preparatory to the surgery I had a room full of some of my favorite people. Brad, Samantha,
Grandma Jean and Grandpa Mark, and my brother Mike. All there to support me and see me
off as the nurses wheeled me out of the pre-op room into surgery. I remember I had a surgical
nurse who was really cute, Kelly, from Philadelphia. Only been in Colorado a few months and had a bunch of
tattoos. We connected. Cute gal. And I remember her introducing me to everyone in the
operating room. I remember Dr Kolb was sitting in a chair and was smiling at me. I remember a
guy named Chief. Chief and Kelly helped me get on the operating table. Chief said. "Do you
feel like you're in the center of the table Lisa?" I said yes, I laid my head back in a little pillow
with a hole in it and after I got in the right position that I was gone. From that point on I don't
remember anything until I got into recovery. I could not wake up in recovery. It seemed to take me
forever. I could hear things going on around me but couldn't open my eyes. I'm pretty sure they
brought Brad in to check on me. At that point I think I opened my eyes. Had some water and crackers
and then if I remember right they put me in a wheelchair and took me up to my hospital room
where I would stay overnight. I requested that no one stay with me as I knew I would just be
sleeping. But getting up that first night to go to the bathroom was painful. I have drains coming
out of both sides of my rib cage that hang down. They are a nuisance. And boy did I hurt. I had
a headache to which didn't help matters. And no matter what they gave me it wouldn't go away.
Day one at Saint Joe's in recovery was weird. It takes me many days to recover from anesthesia.
I imagine they loaded me up pretty good for the surgery and so I don't remember half of the
people that came in to check on me or what I said to them. My mom told me that I did ask her if
my bangs looked OK. That seems about right. Ha ha my bangs are my nemesis. My brother-in-law
Tom delivered flowers for me and they were beautiful. I got a visit from my Bishop Paul
Archer and I don't remember a whole lot of what we talked about. Still coming down from the
anesthesia and I had serious cottonmouth. Didn't sleep much that night because of all the
interruptions from the staff. Brad came to get me and take me home around 3:30 or 4. I don't
remember a whole lot of that either. I just know mom was at home (Nanny's) already waiting for me. We
rearranged all the bedrooms so that Grandma Jean could sleep with me. I was up a lot. They
told me how to drain out the bulbs. Gross. We've had
meals brought in the last three nights and they were wonderful. There's been a quiet
peacefulness in my room upstairs as I recover and heal. Looking at myself in the mirror is also
strange. Yet it's fascinating too.
Brad and I met with Dr. Kolb, my plastic surgeon a week prior just to go over everything. here are the damn extenders that are in my chest now. They will stay there until my fill ups reach the size that I want.
Check in at St. Joe's and waiting to be called for pre op prep. Yikes. My sweet Sam was there with me along with the rest of the gang who showed up.
All set up and now we wait...
Shooting the breeze with my family as we wait for surgery. Samantha, Bradley, Mom, Mark and Mike. Remember, my Emily is at BYUI and Joe is on a mission!
Ok, time to say my goodbyes...Brad just said, "see you later, hon'" No kiss, no hug! He said he didn't know what to do so that's what he did.
All done after 4 hours of surgery. Everything went well! Grateful for the great surgeons that I had. I was so out of it for quite sometime. And after everyone left, I had to use the bathroom and it was so painful to get out of bed. I had 2 bulbs/drains on either side of my rib cage too so that the wounds could drain. I had to change them and clean them. Really gross and I had to keep them in for several weeks.
Love this photo of my sweetheart, smiling through all the pain he is going through too. I love him.