Posts Tagged ‘friends’

  1. At Peace

    April 11, 2017 by Julie Moon

    I received an email last week. It’s really amazing to me how important the work of sharing your story is to people. This email really makes me so very happy. Just an email from a mutual friend who wanted to tell me about her journey.  Yes, I have written this blog for my daughters…but I also write it for every woman who just needs some answers. Peace to you all!

    “Hi Julie,
    Thanks to your mom sharing her experience with me and letting me know about your website, I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Craigie on July 19th.
    I really didn’t think I wanted to do reconstructive surgery. A double mastectomy and 4 rounds of chemo took a toll on me back in 2014. But after meeting with Dr. Craigie in November of last year, I knew I had found the right surgeon . I felt at peace after my husband and I talked extensively with him about the different reconstructive options available through his practice.
    I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for your openness about your journey.”

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  2. Five Years

    February 1, 2017 by Julie Moon

    Today marks five years since my surgery.  I jokingly called it my boobiversary yesterday.  But it’s truly the anniversary of a bold decision. Five years free of worry, stress, concern and cancer.  Honestly when I step back and think about it…that time of my life feels surreal.  I hardly remember what it was like.  I have flashes of my recliner I recovered in.  I remember outfits that I wore that would conform to having drains.  I had drains…oh my…I do remember that.  I remember my mom showering me.  I barely remember my children during that time.  Every time I get ready to get in the shower though…I remember.  There are some serious scars on my body.  I have to constantly remind myself that the scars are worth it.  And this year…it hasn’t been hard.  Two of my friends have been diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  I have to remind myself to thank myself….to thank science…to thank my brave surgeons…to thank my incredibly supportive husband. I’m so grateful for all of the pictures that pop up on facebook memories this time of year. One of the biggest things I learned through this experience is the importance of your village.  There are dozens of men and women who stepped up to help my family during that time.  It literally brings me to tears to even mention it because it wouldn’t have mattered how bold or gutsy or whatever I was…if I had not the support of my community I could NOT have gone through with my procedure.  The quilt my friends all put together for me to take was literally one of the best gifts I have ever received.  The bins outside my door that people just came and filled up with food FOR A MONTH.  Friends who took my children so that I could rest….know that I think of this every time I see you.  The Bozards who let me live at their home, aka paradise, for two weeks! Two weeks they fed me, loved on me and my mom and let me overtake half their house while recovering from a seriously major operation. And my mom…without her this would not have been possible.  I am forever grateful. Forever.  What a journey we are all on.  To my friends and family…I love you.  Thank you.

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  3. Helping Others Is The Best

    November 10, 2015 by Julie Moon

    I often have random strangers email me to ask about my experiences. It always makes me happy to be able to share my life with them.  To help them through some decision making and to clarify what exactly did I have done?  I had an opportunity recently and shared my experiences with one woman.  She wrote me back last week and it truly made my day.  Here is her email:

    It’s M.  I spoke to you a month or so ago about your experiences with Drs. Baron & Craigie.   I’ve been down to Charleston several times and plan to have a single mastectomy with GAP reconstruction using Baron & Kline.  (Kline had office hours the day I met with Baron so he’ll be the leading plastic surgeon and Craigie will be assisting.)
    I thought I was mainly going because of the plastic surgery option offered there, but then came to discover how warm and capable Baron is.   So now I have the utmost confidence in the entire team.  When Baron asked how I came to find out about him, and I mentioned your name, he said “Oh yea yea, the BRCA gene woman”.   So he does remember you.
    I just wanted you to know how thankful I am for both your blog and your willingness to chat with me about your surgery.  I was desperately looking for a reconstruction option that better suited me.    When I did a Google search on “GAP flap reconstruction atlanta”, your blog appeared.    Otherwise the options in Atlanta are non-existent.  I genuinely believe God lead me to you.   Your blog matters so thank you for continuing to keep it out there.
    I’m naturally a little anxious about the whole process but it still feels like the right choice for me.
    Thank you more than you know.
    M
    THIS IS WHY I AM OPEN ABOUT MY STORY!  This is not the first, second or even third woman I have spoken to personally about my experience.  This is how sharing  your life can change other’s lives.

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  4. Over The Mountain

    December 12, 2012 by Julie Moon

    Today marks two weeks post surgery.  This was my third major surgery for 2012.  My mom jokingly calls this one my barbie surgery because this was the one where we fixed all the scars, cavernous hips missing large amounts of tissue and recreated a nipple (sort of…it’s nothing special).  I traveled to Charleston on the 26th with my mom.  She’s been so amazing this year for me.  She’s been through the toughest parts.  She has been the one to see me hurting the most and she’s been the one to receive the most complaints and general recovering Julieisms.

    We stayed with our friends again who we lived with for a week and a half after my first surgery.  It was so great to catch up. I stayed at their house so long before it felt like coming home in a way to visit them and sleep in “my old bed”.  We got up way early for surgery and like a doofus I took my antibiotics (on an empty pre surgery stomach).  I do this every time because they tell you to start them the day before and I’m such a darn rule follower that I took it that morning.  Nevermind that they were already going to give it to me in my IV at the hospital.  So I eventually threw it up in the preop waiting area. Oh well…maybe someday I’ll learn or remember.  I brought my beautiful quilt with me again as I waited.  Every staff member was wonderful, my doc, nurses, anesthesiology staff…they were all so great.  I don’t remember now how long surgery was…but I was out sometime after lunch.  So maybe 5 hours?  We stayed at East Cooper overnight so I could sleep on the air bed.  I was so grateful to not have to wake up and get up and get out of the hospital right after surgery.  That was such a pain the last time.  I have lots of blood pressure issues when standing up for days after surgery.  Then we came home to Athens and my mom came with me too.

    I came home with two drains and a compression garment from my knees to my ribs.  Joe lent me a laptop to so I could get cozy in the recliner while keeping up with the world and my friends.  It’s all a bit of a blur now.  Heck, life feels like that when I’m not on pain meds or recovering from surgery.  Mom helped me wrap Christmas presents. I tried to get most of my shopping done early so that I wouldn’t feel stressed about getting Christmas ready for three small children.

    My friends brought meals again…I feel like I owe them all a night out.  In fact I get emotional every time I think about the people who have served me this year.  Near and far I have felt so much love and support it is just more than my heart can hold and my heart bursts out through my tears every single time.   I truly know who my friends are this year.   I truly know that my family loves me dearly.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that this village I am a part of is good to it’s core and without them I would be lost.

    This past weekend the Mister had some work to do in Charleston so we planned weekend sleepovers for the bigs and Joe, Scarlett and I traveled to Charleston together.  Scarlett and I hung out in the hotel and she enjoyed jumping on the bed, watching tv in bed and buffet breakfast.  It was quite a treat to spend time with just one child…but I definitely missed my big kids so much.    We saw Dr. Craigie on Monday and he pulled both my drains! Thank the Lord!  He said I should wear my compression for another couple weeks.

    Though I still have lots of visible scars I feel like my body looks more like normal than it has in a year.  I feel close to whole.

    Tonight at dinner Savannah asked me “So which one of us kids do you think has the gene?”  *sigh*  I told her “I hope none of you sweetheart.”  She’s thinking lots about it I know.  It’s deep in that brain of hers that goes a million miles a minute.  I know my children won’t fully GET what I have done until they have a friend whose mother gets breast cancer, goes through chemo and heave forbid dies.  They are too young to have SEEN that yet in life.  But I hope they understand what this year of sacrifice has meant for them.   Scarlett said “Mommy I wish you weren’t sick.” and I know that I”m not “sick”.  I know that I’ve done this so I won’t ever have to be “sick” from breast cancer…like so many others in my family.

    I’m so excited about 2013 for them.  I’m so excited about a mom who isn’t traveling out of town for surgeries.  I’m so excited about a mom who doens’t have wounds and can get in the pool.  I’m so excited about a mom who feels great and can really enjoy the year with them.  My children and my husband have been strong troopers.  My husband…no words for the love and support he has given me through this decision and my journey.

    Whew…what a year.  My journey isn’t over.  There are still some more surgeries in my future regarding ovaries.  I still have some decisions to make but overall…this was the biggest mountain and I’m on the other side.  I didn’t climb the mountain alone and sometimes I was carried but we made it over the mountain.  God is good!

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  5. I’ve Hit A Funk

    May 31, 2012 by Julie Moon

    ********warning…there is a whole lot of whining in this post

    i have to get it all out before I can get over it ********

    I haven’t posted since I got home from Charleston.  It’s been a week now since I returned.   Honestly I haven’t done much of anything.  I am having a much harder time with this stage than I expected.  It helps me greatly to look back on photos of myself as a happy, bright eyed woman because right now I am not sure where that chick is.  I have only really gotten dressed once in the past week and that was because some friends came over to celebrate Memorial Day.   I barely got off the couch that day and every day since.  So…let’s break it down so I can process all that I’m feeling.

    1- I hate meds.  It’s good I don’t need them on a regular basis because my body freaking hates meds.  I had to quit taking the dilaudid because even zofran wasn’t taking care of my nausea.  I decided I could deal with a bit more pain if it meant less nausea.  I hate how meds mess with your digestion.  I hate that I have to set a timer to remember to take something around the clock.  I’m finished with my antibiotic.  I’m taking extra strength tylenol but last night I tried some Aleve to see if that helped more.   Medicine makes me feel weak…not myself.

    2- I feel guilty.  Summer started on May 16th for my children. I feel like they are just missing out on the first month of summer, stuck with their sick mom in the house or pawned off on other people.  I want to take them to the pool but I can’t get in the pool…which poses a problem when it’s 95 degrees outside and when you have a three year old.   A few people have taken the kids to the pool and I feel like I’m missing out.  I want them to remember this summer as a fun time not as the summer their mother was laid up on the couch.  I’m tired of hearing the tv blaring but little children don’t find things to do on their own easily without some encouragement.  I just feel like I’m in a fog and the days are slipping by.

    3-I’m scared.  I see my wounds and worry about my healing.  In my head I know things are going to go fine but it’s such a delicate thing.  I pray every day that my body will be whole and complete and healthy but I am scared.

    4- I’m worried.  I worry about my brca sisters.  I know so many of them have been looking to me as a strong example.  They have told me their concerns and fears and I have been the champion cheerleader.  I have encouraged them and been their support and now I’m weak and I worry that this might scare them.  I know they want to know the good and bad but I know how scary it can be also.

    5- I’m grateful.  My friends have not missed a beat helping me out this time as well.  Stopping by with food, to clean up my living room or do a load of laundry.  I’ve had plenty of help with my children.

    Last night one of my friends came and got my oldest two children.  She took my wild and crazy 7 year old boy and my 9 year old with a low grade fever who had thrown up the night before.  She has three of her own.  Her selflessness made me cry.  To take a friend’s children when one of them is sick…potentially taking that on for your own family…loving my children as her own was remarkable.  I have said it before…my village is amazing.  Today my sister came and got the little one and they are off for a day long adventure.  I want my babies close to me…they make me feel comforted even when they are driving me crazy.  To be alone is a bit scary sometimes but I think I need this day to process, let it all out and stand back up.  I know my kids are having the time of their life…they will come home happy, recharged, well fed and loved and hopefully I will greet them with a bit of the same.

    How I look has become secondary this week…how I feel is so much more important right now.  I need to feel better.   I’m planning on going out today…somewhere.  I’m going to get out of the house and go somewhere that makes me feel normal.

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  6. Stage Two In My Rear View Mirror

    May 25, 2012 by Julie Moon

    I never tire of seeing this beautiful city.  Charleston in my heart is a place of healing.  It is a place of happiness for me.  It was just four short months ago that my life took such a turn here in Charleston.  I made a very tough decision to do something radical to ensure a life free of breast cancer.  And this past week I was able to return to Charleston for the stage two of my reconstruction.

    Two of my very best friends packed up and drove me to Charleston.  My mom couldn’t leave until Tuesday so these wonderful women drove me down for my preop consult.  We then had the opportunity to meet someone who is in the process of her reconstruction as well.   The mother of a good friend of ours who I referred to Dr. Kline and Dr. Craigie. She’s had some obstacles to overcome in her recovery but it was so inspirational to see her and hear her express her gratitude for leading her to Charleston.

    Stage two was lots easier than stage one.  My surgery was only 5 hours instead of 11.  However it was outpatient so as soon as I was in recovery they were waking me up and trying to get me going.  I felt so groggy.  The way you feel when you’re asleep and dreaming and trying to wake up in your dreams.  Everything is blurry and impossible.  It’s so very frustrating to be in that state.  Everytime I sat up my face went pale and I thought I would pass out.  My friend Meg and my mom looked at each other with concern…how in the world were they going to get me into our hotel room.  Eventually they did it…they got me settled in and I slept most of the rest of the day. Right before they got the call that I was in recovery they were preparing to order sandwiches…so their lunch got delayed until dinner.  Sorry ladies!

    This stage they revised my scars on my breasts and recreated the nipple that I lost in stage one.  Dr. Craigie also revised the ends of my donor site scars so they are now flat instead of creating “dog ears”.  Some more contouring was done so that everything was smooth and even.  I am very sore this time but much more mobile.  I still have restrictions for about 3 weeks and will be resting and recovering at home.  I feel so happy with the results.  I still have a bit of a road of healing, getting these wounds to close up completely and some time getting these scars to fade.  I still may do another revision on my donor site in the future but I won’t be doing anything until the fall.  Oh and the best part of stage 2…no drains!  I do however have to wear compression garments for the next three weeks…which makes me a bit nauseous.

    I’m incredibly tired and my body is sore…I can hardly believe that I have two stages of surgery behind me now.  I have already been able to connect with several women locally who are BRCA + and some others long distance via this blog.  It makes me so happy to know that my journey gives strength to these other women.

    My mom and I having breakfast the day after surgery at IHOP.

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  7. Help Me Save Lives

    March 5, 2012 by Julie Moon

    I spent a weekend in October in Atlanta in a sea of pink.   I was working on the crew at the Atlanta Susan G Komen 3 day For The Cure.   I worked on the crew which means I was one of the 425 who supported 2400 walkers in walking 60 miles in 3 days to raise money to find an cure for breast cancer.

    I carry the BRCA 1 gene mutation.  My mother is a breast cancer survivor and carries the BRCA 1 gene mutation.  My grandmother was a double breast cancer survivor.  My aunt died of complications from her breast cancer therapy.   It is an event that means a great deal to me and my entire family.

    It was an amazing event and I’m so grateful that I was able to participate.  I have already signed up to be on the crew in Atlanta in 2012 along with my mother, her best friend, my brother,his wife, my sister, her fiance, my best friend and a friend I made at the 2011 3day.  I plan on walking my first event in 2013 with my husband.  The 2011 Atlanta 3day event raised 6.5 million dollars for breast cancer research.  I stood in awe at the closing ceremony looking around at all the other people who had worked/walked that weekend to support something that affects me so deeply.  Several of you donated to support my efforts.  For that I am beyond grateful.

    I’d love your support for 2012! Will you help me reach my goal of $500?

    DONATE HERE

     

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  8. Feeling more human

    March 1, 2012 by Julie Moon

    Monday morning one of my besties volunteered to drive me to Charleston to see the doctor and to get my last two drains pulled.  If you don’t know what drains are, consider yourself blessed.  Having them for a month has been a drag.  I was so excited for this day to come.  We drove straight there…nearly running out of gas because evidently noone thought it was a good idea to put a gas station on I-20 for what felt like 100 miles.  Thankfully we made it to our hotel without having to walk to any gas stations.

    We relaxed for a bit and decided to go out to dinner in downtown Charleston at a great little place  called Blossom.  It’s wonderful to have friends who have lived there because they always give us the best restaurant recommendations.  I love being in Charleston!  We turned in early and watched some crazy tv until it was time to fall asleep.  Isn’t hotel tv the best…you watch things you never would have watched at home.  We watched some TLC show where a child had a parasitic twin removed from his body…wha?

    Tuesday morning we went to my favorite breakfast spot…Hominy Grill.  I have yet to have dinner or lunch there but I have plenty more Charleston trips planned this year.  It was delicious as always. It reminds me of our very own Athens restaurant, Mama’s Boy just with more seafood.   We killed some time shopping at TJMaxx and Homegoods and found a dress that might work for the baby girl to wear as flowergirl in May.

    Finally it was time for a visit and I was so excited.  In the waiting room we met another BRCA 1 family.  A young girl from Atlanta.  It was great to share stories and realize that we were going through much of the same journey.  She had a failed flap in her first surgery….such a small percentage of women have this happen.  So she was there having her second reconstruction.

    At last it was my turn to see Dr. Craigie.  He came in and sat down like an old friend ready to hear how I was doing.  We discussed my recovery and then he got to work.  I had nipple sparing surgery which means we attempted to save the nipple to be part of the reconstruction.  This is difficult because the nipple has the weakest blood supply after mastectomy.  One side has healed beautifully and managed to get a very good blood supply.  The other side has not been so lucky.  We have been using silvadene cream for the past 3 weeks trying to help it heal.  Dr. Craigie cleaned the wound and cut away the dead tissue and now we are working on my protein and letting the skin continue to grow to heal the wound.  Please pray for this to heal.  It is by far the scariest part to me…looking at my body with an open wound.  There still is a chance that there is enough healthy tissue for part of my nipple to survive.  The second stage of surgery we will be able to repair/construct anything that we need to though.  I have full confidence in my surgeon and his ability to make me whole again.  I have seen AMAZING pictures and I believe I will be one of those too.  THEN HE PULLED MY DRAINS!! Woo hoo! It was glorious to be free of those darn tagalongs.  They did a great job but I’m glad to let them go!

    After my wonderful appointment we celebrated with frozen yogurt and then headed on our journey home.  I got to see my baby girl before she went to bed on her birthday! What a wonderful trip!

    Look what my family had on the door waiting for me!

     

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  9. Road Trip

    February 21, 2012 by Julie Moon

    I just got off the phone with my physicians assistant at the plastic surgeon’s office.  I have an appointment on the 28th to HAVE MY DRAINS REMOVED!  One of my best friends offered to drive me to Charleston to see the doctor.  And though they don’t require me to go I could tell they were very happy that I was choosing to drive back to see them.  It will be great to have them removed there in the office.  It will also be great to be able to be “checked over” by the doctor and let them see how my healing is going.  I am very grateful for my friend offering and we might be able to have another friend or two come along.  We are going to make the most of it and spend one night there as well.  I am so excited!

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  10. Times of Healing

    February 20, 2012 by Julie Moon


    February 20th…getting so close to being a month out of surgery.  It feels so strange.  Time passes so slowly while I sit at home but yet I look at the calendar and 20 days have passed since that early morning before my surgery.

    Yesterday I was blessed to have a friend pay for a massage therapist to come to my home.  She spent over an hour doing healing work with her hands on my body.  She mentioned more than once the word “trauma” in reference to my surgery.  I hadn’t ever really thought of it as trauma because that word conjures up thoughts of a terrible accident or something that is done to you without your permission.  I had given consent for my body to be sliced and diced and rearranged.  But if my body has a viewpoint I could see my body feeling like it had a “trauma” done to itself.   She helped my body to relax.  My muscles are constantly tense and spasming.  I don’t know what is “normal tightness” and what is just my body being tense.  It’s a new normal completely.

    The best part about the day was that after the massage I felt my heart take a turn.  I felt positive for the first time in a while.  I gave myself permission to be happy that my donor site wounds seem to be healing nicely.  I fixed myself some lunch while my mom was massaged (thank you to my friend for including her as well).  I was independant for an hour…all by myself and I felt “normal” somewhat.  I haven’t really needed many pain meds and last night I found an entirely different way to sleep with many pillows that didn’t encourage swelling in my chest.   I would call these times of healing.  It really gives me hope for what another week of recovery will hold.  I can only imagine how great I will feel when THESE DRAINS COME OUT!!!!! I’m planning a return trip to Charleston with a friend for the grand removal.

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