Book Excerpts

Emergency Underwear

My son, Steven, flew in to stay with me for ten days following my great escape from the hospital. He was in charge of my pain medications and driving me to and from hyperbaric treatments and doctors appointments. Since I was restricted from using both arms, he was...

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Latissimus Dorsi Surgery

Before I get into my recovery stories, I thought I would do a quick explanation of the type of reconstruction surgery that I had. Because of the radiation damage to my skin and chest muscle area, the only option for reconstruction on my right side was a Latissimus...

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Out of Surgery

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to send out an update that Mom is out of surgery and doing well.  She will be in recovery for a little while, and then will be staying at the hospital for the next few days for some much-deserved rest.  Thank you all for your prayers and...

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I Only Got Lost Once

Have you ever noticed that whenever you get cocky, it comes back to bite you? Today was one of those days. I traveled with Gene to Minneapolis so he could attend a meeting and I could visit with my old friend . . . the mall. We arrived a bit early and checked into the...

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MacGyver (Without the Paperclip)

As I was spent my two hours in the hyperbaric chamber today, I wondered what MacGyver would do in my situation? If you remember the MacGyver television series, whenever MacGyver was stuck in a situation, he would take a paperclip, a lost penny, and the band aid off...

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My First Dive

Yesterday was my first hyperbaric chamber treatment, and I will admit that I was anxious about how I would do. I tried to follow my mother's advice and not think about it too much, but the combination of a confined space and Valium had me worried. Fortunately, I was...

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The Hyperbaric Chamber

I stand behind my belief that doctors spend their spare time dreaming up additional tests and procedures they can put you through. My plastic surgeon has decided that I need hyperbaric chamber treatments to treat the skin on my chest and prepare it for reconstructive...

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The Einstein Effect

It has been ten months since I stopped taking the chemo that makes your hair fall out and I am starting to see some significant growth. In the back, my hair is about three inches long when I stretch the curls out. But the bangs . . . sigh . . . the bangs. My bangs...

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Early Celebration

After exhausting the Iowa pumpkin supply, Gene and I traveled to Texas over the holidays to celebrate the near end of my treatment with my family. Gene has marked the completion of each chemo session these past 15 months by blowing up a pumpkin or watermelon for me....

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Chicken Wings

I had my one month post op, follow-up appointment with my doctor today and he lifted my restrictions. I feel like a free woman. For the past month, I have had limited movement of my arm. I could not move it more than 45 degrees or lift anything more than 10 pounds....

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