One year ago at Thanksgiving I found a small lump in my breast. On my 32nd birthday, November 30th, I had a biopsy that led just a week or two later to a breast cancer diagnosis. Then came the double mastectomy, the infection, the multiple surgeries and recoveries, the hours spent driving one hour each way 1-2 times per week for appointments, the hours spent on the phone scheduling and handling insurance issues. And the fear, the pain, the scars, and intensity of it all.
One year later, on my 33rd birthday, November 30th, I celebrated the beginning of a new year of my life. I am 6 weeks out from my last surgery now, which means my weight restrictions are lifted and I am free to move (and lift heavy weights like I love to do) as I wish. I have one very simple nipple reconstruction ahead, and that is that. Cancer is done, surgery is done, recovering is done, and moving forward has started.
For me, birthdays have generally been about me wishing someone would make me feel loved and special… but now my birthday is about me celebrating that I AM loved, special, healthy, and alive.
Thank you to all of you for your prayers, thoughts, words of encouragement, visits, and love.
7 Comments
I read this on the way into getting my hair cut and actually cried. I’ve been through a lot in the last two years, but nothing like your journey. I know our pain is all relative, but I am thankful for your healing. God is good J. It seems as if he has held your hand through it all…
forgot to say…happy bday! AND you are a crazy woman for loving to lift heavy weights.
So much to be thankful for. Beautiful.
Hi Jessica, I came by way of Tracey. She actually emailed me and told me about you and your incredible journey and told me to come read about it myself. I don’t even know you and think you are amazing and beautiful.
And happy 33! I’m 33 too and I have to say, it’s been a nice year. 🙂
Off to go check out the rest of your blog now! 🙂
i am so SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ps.
happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@
OH Jessica, what an incredible story of courage and restoration. Thank you for sharing your journey. Like Tracey, Ive had a challenging two years also, but nothing like you. Puts everything into prospective. Thankful for my husband clean bill of health after skin cancer, surgeries and infection afterward.
May you be fully blessed in 2012.
was just reading through your archives and saw this post. wow, jessica. i can’t even begin to imagine all that you have been through. praying that 2012 is full of life and good health and blessings in abundance.