46 Inviting Arkansas as the chemo had completely demolished all of my muscle mass and strength. I gave Brad Baltz a piece of my mind that day. July 2, 2007 - double mastectomy and beginning reconstruction I didn't speak for at least 3 days during this ordeal. How do you? What do you say to anyone when you are getting ready to get your womanhood cut off? Keith was worried about what they would do with my boobs after they cut them off. I was amused by his curiosity. What the hell does it matter what they do with them? He was upset about where his wife's chest would end up. In the trash? Good question actually. Dr. Fant was going to take off the breasts and tissue down to my chest wall (yes, and the skin and nipple, too). Afterwards, Dr. Ed Love would take over in the same operating room and place the tissue expanders that eventually would be filled with saline each week as they stretched my skin for the real silicone implants. This process would take months. The following morning, Dr. Fant entered my room and woke me up from my drug-induced coma. She made me look at my chest. Wow! They were really gone. I had no boobs. The expanders were in place. They resembled an unleavened Ciabatta roll, if there is such a thing. I never realized while taking my tissue, they would also take my nerves. I had no feeling in my chest or armpits. This feeling is with me today. I will never get used to it. October 3, 2007 - BRCA I and 2 negative Thank God for these test results! "Whenever God closes one door He always opens another, even though sometimes it is hell in the hallway?. October 19, 2007 - Race for the Cure Huge turnout for my Race for the Cure team! Evidently, we won biggest social group! Mom and Dad hosted a party at Ferneau for us! Great food, drinks, music by Ritchie Johnson, the fellowship...unbelievable! Family and friends from all over the country came in to celebrate my survivorship! What an honor! October21, 2007 - breast reconstruction I'm met by Dr. Love and his lovely nurse Kelly in the operating room. I am finished, finally ,with my weekly trip to his office to get "pumped up.? This has been a long, hard and extremely painful process. At first I think Kelly thought (or knew, rather) that I was a wimp...I grew on her, though. When they expand your skin they have to inject a long, scary needle into your little ports in each breast where they pump you with more saline. It's grueling. But it's over now and it's time for my real, soft, LARGE (size D!) silicone implants. Another surgery -but this one is exciting! And I love, love, love my new boobs! April 30, 2008 - nipple reconstruction Last surgery! Went great with no problems! And my new nipples look like real ones! Today So, there it all is. My journey through cancer. It is not an unusual story. But unique, as each cancer and diagnosis is privy to the individual affected. A snowflake of sorts; they are all made of the same thing but appear to be different and are individualistic in their own way. I am doing physically well. I am strong as ever. Keith and I are running 2-3 miles each morning. Emotionally, I am not in as great of shape. I'm still trying to sort through a lot of what I have endured throughout the past couple of years. Brad says that I am finally feeling cancer. He used to call me the "stepford? cancer patient. Reality has set in, and I am a work in progress. I worked (almost) every day during my journey. I was fortunate to work in our family business. They were tolerant of what I was going through and were understanding and supportive. I am positive that getting up every day, washing my bald head, and heading to work played an important role in my accomplishing survivorship. The family support continues as my journey continues. My parents were there to scoop up my children -isolate them from the terrors of my bedroom- so their grandchildren didn't have to witness the side affects of the poison. My brothers, Brad and Dave, along with his wife Ellen and their sons Trace and John gave me constant comfort and love. Most importantly the strength and support from Keith was endless. He gave me his all during the highs and lows of this disease. He is remarkable. (And handsome). The way he took care of me and our children warms my heart. He's amazing. My children were the three reasons I woke up every day. I got out of my bed because of them. I couldn't give up on myself because of them. Drew, Lilly and Reece are the reason I am alive today. I am a mother and a cancer survivor!
WHAT'S
Happening in October
10.2.thurs
Designing Women Benefiting the Emerging Leaders program of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas Featuring designs by Korto Momolu Arkansas Governor's Mansion 5:30pm Jeans, Beans & Bingo To benefit Center for Women in Transition River Market Pavilion - 7pm Festival of Wines To benefit American Heart Association Dickey-Stephens Park - 6pm 501.379.119810.4.sat
2008 Amethyst Ball To benefit Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence Embassy Suites Hotel - 7pm 501.907.5612 James Hayes Fall Art Glass Show 7216 Ohio St Lynette Sides at 870.540.908010.5.sun
All That Jazz Benefits CARTI Kids Memorial Trust Fund Next Level Events - 6pm 501.296.3202 Arkansas Hospice Halloween Doggie Costume Contest To benefit "Furry Angels? Pet Therapy Program River Market Pavilion Registration at 2:30pm10.9.thurs
Ending Hunger in Arkansas Anniversary Luncheon To benefit Arkansas Rice Depot Governor's Mansion 11:30 am10.10.fri
Celebrity Soiree With Celebrity Honorees Judge & Amy Reinhold To benefit THEA Foundation Home of Vincent Insalaco 567 Silverwood Trail, NLR 7pm10.11.sat
Race for the Cure To benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation Take A Breather To benefit Arkansas Respiratory Association Honoring Linda & George Gleason and Blue & You Foundation The Peabody Little Rock 501.224.586410.12.sun
Splatters - A Fine Mess To benefit Centers for Youth & Families Pleasant Valley Country Club 6:30pm 501.666.943610.13.mon
Vision Award Luncheon To benefit Lions World Services for the Blind Honoring Walter Hussman Doubletree Hotel - 11:45pm 501.664.710010.16.thurs
Rendezvous on the River To benefit Single Parent Scholarship Fund Home of Janell & Clark Mason 5:30pm 501.301.7774 Paws on the Runway To benefit CARE for Animals Andy Warhol - 15 Weeks of Fame Member Reception Hosted by the Arkansas Arts Center - 6pm Charity Olive Hour To benefit Arkansas Special Olympics Next Level Events - 5:30pm A Major League Night for the Fight Against ALS To benefit ALS Research and Clinical Center at UAMS 3rd Annual Paul Dunn Auction & Party Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church - 6:30pm 501.526.6323 A Night for Sight To benefit Arkansas National Association for Parents of ChildrenWith Visual Impairments and the Ark. School for the Blind Chenal Country Club - 7pm 501.223.5222 Gallery Heart Walk in the Heights To benefit American Heart Association 5100 Block of Kavanaugh 6pm 501.379.1176 Monster Bash To benefit UAMS Pavilion in the Park - 7pm 501.944.650010.18.sat
Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Induction Statehouse Convention Center - 7pm 501.377.195010.19.sun
Silent Sunday Statehouse Convention Center - 12 Noon 501.603.352110.23.thurs
Day Planner Preview Party To benefit the Humane Society of Pulaski County 122 Hickory Creek Circle 6:30pm 501.227.616610.24-10.31.thurs
Boo at the Zoo To benefit the Little Rock Zoo Little Rock Zoo - 6pm 501.661.723010.25.sat-11.19
Partners Card Week To benefit Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute 501.686.828610.30.thurs
Autumn Runway Luncheon & Style Show To benefit Salvation Army Featuring fashions from Pinky Punky Embassy Suites Hotel 11:30am 501.758.2434october 2008banking with metropolitan just got more rewarding!????? ??????? ??? ????editor's page5the sweat shop7gala for life9ualr launches $75 million campaign it's time for ualr11on the coveralzheimer's association 5th annual autumn lights gala & silent auction thursday, november 6, 2008 doubletree hotel - 6:30pm 501-265-0027 or email teresa.guerrero@alz.orghistoric hillcrestraspberries!permanent makeup ????? thinking about a new you? ask dr. lovetunningyou deserve a second chance ? beautiful skinlaser scene&beseenscene&beseensohoscene&beseennow open! ????????? ?????????? ?????? inquire about our private corporate lunches.a proven leader for little rock sharon'sarkansas made 32in the spotlight34in the spotlighttux 'n treesin the spotlightin the spotlight health wisein the spotlight art scenein the spotlight the human touchin the spotlight culture club as light as beer gets proust questionnairein the spotlight a breast cancer journey45 what's eat. play.falling4950515253katv bids farewell to jason harperhome for the holidaysnow open!??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????free small business checking that pays. blind ambition inc. it's a site that's quite inviting!???????? uggs...not 64in the spotlightlast lookone day this world will be theirs.68