Sorry for the long break in info for Mom, I’ll try and keep everyone in the loop on what’s been happening for the last few months.

Chemo ended in August. Mom’s hair started coming back in, this time quite curly. Maybe no more permanents in her future. Her energy was low and she slept a lot but when she had the energy she was able to be around people again.

In January she started her breast reconstruction. It’s early at this point but knock on wood all’s going well. The implant is slowly filled with saline in order to stretch the area to the size she wants. Mom’s hopeful she will soon “stop being lopsided”. When she asked about starting this process her plastic surgeon asked her “Why she wanted her breast back? Women her age don’t usually get a reconstruction”. My sister Lisa says it’s just because they don’t know they can. The 1st surgeon had failed to let her know she could have started the reconstruction at the same time her mastectomy was done. Are we just looking at ageism (she was 75 when she had her surgery… why would she possibly need a normal breast?) or the reason so many women would rather go to a female gyno. The old saying “why take your car to a mechanic who will never own a car of his own”. I try not to be annoyed by this man who did save my mother because of his lack of understanding of the female psyche. We have a nephew who lost his lower left leg to an IED in Iraq. When he recovered from his injuries he was given a prosthetic and within 5 months ran a twelve mile race in Washington D.C. where he finished in front of able-bodied runners. Of course he should have gotten his prosthetic. I’m sure no one asked him why he wanted it. Perhaps a course in sensitivity should be added to medical school itinerary.

We continue to be thankful for every ones out pouring of love toward my mom Merry.