Page 29 - Plasticos-magazine-7

for something I always wanted to do, return too university myself to work on an advance degree
in teacher leadership. I had a great interest in the research process. We were taught by a gifted

instructor how to analyze each part of peer reviewed, evidence-based studies.

My course would take a different trajectory in the middle of my studies. After a yearly mammogram,

it was discovered I had a recurrence of breast cancer in my left breast and a new primary in my
right. Now the treatment plan was complete loss of breasts, a double mastectomy. Saddened
by this news, my breast surgeon gave me a sense of hope the day she told me she would have to
perform the mastectomy. She gave me all my options for breast reconstruction, implants, using
my own tissue, or a combination of both.

I had no idea what DIEP flap was until that day. It would be my choice for reconstruction after
my mastectomy because the thought of using my own tissue greatly appealed to me. While I

was healing, I began to research the process to find a well-qualified microsurgeon to perform
my procedure. The research I did convinced me it would be important to find one who had
successfully and routinely performed autologous reconstruction. It was important to me to find
a team of surgeons who worked together. Because of the intricacy and length of this surgery, it
only made sense to me it would be easier on me and the surgeon.

Seven months after my double mastectomy, I had delayed DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
Because there was not a microsurgeon in my town of residence that fulfilled my criteria for a
surgeon, I had to travel 800 miles. There was planning, gathering friends and family to help with

travel, purchasing the necessary recovery items, and tending to constant phones calls of concern.
It was a lot to deal with emotionally for someone who was dealing with a second diagnosis.

My research paid off. My DIEP flap was nothing short of a seamless process. It was not easy, but
I had very little pain. The scar tissue from my radiation twelve years previous had been removed

by my gifted reconstructive surgeon and replace with my own soft, warm, tummy tissue.

I patiently took each day of healing with support from family and friends. The incredible process

and planning I went through began to make me think how many others must go through this.
Would they be as fortunate as I was?

Three months after my surgery, I began writing about my experience in a WordPress blog. I
utilized social media to share my story. I heard from patients and surgeons who were interested

in what I was doing. A year after opening my blog, I applied to the U.S. government to open an
NPO, nonprofit organization to support others going through what I had gone through.

29 VOL 7, 2021