February, 2012

  1. Day 5

    February 5, 2012 by Julie Moon

    Hard day today.  I feel scared to leave the hospital.  I feel like I’m in pieces.  I am sore all over. All I want to do is curl up on my side and sleep but drains keep me from being able to do so. My back aches and I know it won’t just be better tomorrow.

    My friends are coming. I don’t think they will get the response they expect. I don’t want to talk I just want to sleep through the next week. I am sad.  I am so glad they are coming.  I know I can just cry and let it all go…it makes me so sad to think that women have to go through things like this without a huge support of people.  If I feel like this and I have all the best friends in the world then what in the world must they feel like?

    I won’t lie…being cut on both sides of your body is painful.  My breasts feel engorged…like they don’t belong to me but that someone  hung some sandbags on my chest.  They are warm and look great though.  They are connecting to my body.  My back side hurts.  I’m scared about riding in the car.  It’s gonna hurt.  I want to triple my pain meds and just be knocked out.


  2. Day 3

    February 4, 2012 by Julie Moon

    I’m feeling extra sappy tonight. I am so happy I did this. Even when it hurts. I couldn’t have done this without my village. Thank you everyone. I finally have a pain med that is working. Yesterday was SO HARD. Friday was a much better day. Though mom keeps saying she doesn’t know where we’d put more flowers I am so encouraged. They sit at the foot of my bed and remind me that I’m being thought of. I can’t wait to see my family and friends again. I worry about the Mister. He doesn’t always recognize what he is feeling.  We watched Grey’s Anatomy tonight and that made me feel normal.  I have eaten some of my yummy snacks.  Tomorrow is shower day and I’m nervous about that.  Here’s me giving all my friends and family big hugs and kisses.


  3. Day 1

    February 2, 2012 by Julie Moon

    Wow! This is the most surreal feeling I can imagine right now. I actually did it. The doctors said it went great. I’m sleeping well despite my awesome nurse checking in on me. The hospital is beautiful and my room is large. I do miss my babies and the Mister.  I called my big girl around 8:30and had my best friend wake her up.  It was good for both of us.  I am so grateful my mom is here.  I am so grateful I am so healthy that this makes it such an easier procedure.  I have gotten sooooo many compliments on my beautiful quilt my friends made me.  Life is good.  My heart is full.

    My surgery took 12 hours. Can you believe that? I am sore. Morphine And Valium to the rescue.


  4. Mastectomy Eve

    February 1, 2012 by Julie Moon

    This is the place I will leave my risk of breast cancer.  This is East Cooper Medical Center…a beautiful facility.  We have met nothing but nice and helpful people. I was there twice today and it will become my new home through the weekend.  I am so grateful that I was able to afford to travel here with my mom.  I am so grateful for Dr. Craigie and Dr. Kline and Dr. Baron who will perform my surgeries.  It will be mind blowing, life altering and life saving.  I am so grateful that I do not have cancer and I get to tackle this as a healthy 34 year old woman.  I am so grateful that the BRCA test was conclusive and I was able to confidently move foward with this step.  I am so grateful for each and every person who is at home feeding, hugging, nurturing, driving, dressing, bathing, teaching, snuggling, and taking care of my dear sweet children.

    I feel the prayers and positive energy of my friends.  I am envisioning the candles that will be lit for me tomorrow.  I pray for peace for my friends and family while I’m under.  My wish is that tomorrow not only changes my own life but that it changes many people’s lives.  I hope it inspires a woman to get her mammograms or research her genetics.  I hope it encourages a husband to be completely supportive of radical preventative measures his wife may want to take for her health.  I hope that it challenges more people to participate in the 3day and other events that support breast cancer research.  We need more research.  We need to find a cure.

    Goodbye to the breasts I know and have loved…the breasts that have nourished my three children and have been loved by my husband.  I am looking forward to meeting my new breasts…the ones that will carry me into my old age.  I suppose if you want to be technical I have known those breasts all along since they will come from my back side.  🙂