3 Weeks Post Op

Today I am feeling amazing! I have enough energy to run errands with the kids and get through an afternoon without a nap. I am in good spirits and feel like I am being given a 2nd chance at life. My mother in law's church family has been praying for me and discussing my miracle. And that's exactly what I feel like! A miracle! I'm so blessed to be here today. To be able to see the smiles and hear the laughter from my children. To hug my husband and pet my dogs. I'm just feeling blessed! So what's the next step in my journey? I am going on vacation this next week, with the blessing of 2 of my main doctors. We are going to Branson, MO to spend a week with my family, relaxing and enjoying one another's company. My siblings came to Houston when I was in the ICU after my first surgery but I of course barely remember them here because I was in a coma for 5 days. I didn't get to visit or enjoy them like I wish I could have. So this vacation we are celebrating life! When I get back I will be starting the journey of chemotherapy. August 14th is my first day that I am scheduled. I will do 4 rounds every 3 weeks and then I will change drugs and do it weekly for 12 weeks. So, a total of 24 weeks of chemotherapy is in the plans. Then I will start radiation for 33 consecutive cycles (not including the weekends). This brings us to February I think. I will have to wait 3 months or so to see how my skin reacts to the large doses of radiation before having my reconstruction surgery so that looks like it may happen closer to May or June 2015. I am just glad I have a plan! Now, what have I been up to only 3 weeks out of open heart surgery? Well, I have been on the go! I pick up Avery from practices, bring him to work, go to Walmart, go to lunch with friends and Erik, pay bills, write blogs, take naps, all the things I would be doing minus working. I am approved off of work until Sept. 11th. That will give me 2 sessions of chemo to see how my body reacts. Erik's cousin so graciously gave me her box of scarves to help hide my bald head and keep it warm in the winter months. Lucky for me, Houston is warm even in November! I have 2 wigs and numerous baseball caps to help keep me covered. People have been so gracious by sending checks and gift cards, and providing meals the first 6 weeks post operatively. My family feels the love being shared and we feel so blessed to have friends and family like we have. I look forward to getting into a new normal of life in the next few weeks as chemo will be my new normal. I also have to fit in cardiac rehab by the way 2-3 times per week. My weeks will be filled with appointments and running here and there but at least I can do it! I'm blessed beyond measure to be alive!

Open Heart Surgery

In order for me to get clearance for the revision surgery of the left breast, I needed to get cardiac clearance. My echo's they did in the hospital were ok but the cardiologist wanted me to have a stress test. So I opted for the nuclear stress test where they give you a radioactive solution in your vein and it makes your heart start to race just as if you were on the treadmill, but you really are just laying on the bed. It feels really weird! They saw something odd on that test and Dr. Avendano wanted me to have a heart catheterization which was scheduled for July 8th. July 3rd came and went without a hitch. Dr. Gill fixed my left breast with ease. July 8th came and went and the heart cath was performed. I was immediately admitted to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands to have a double heart bypass the following day because my heart cath showed a blockage in my widow maker or left main. This is very serious because you can just keel over and die with no notice. So I was a trooper and agreed to the bypass, as scary as that sounded. July 9th, I had my surgery and was scheduled to stay in the hospital for a week. I woke up with the intubation tube still in place and coughing. I tried to take the tube out but the nurses were quicker than me and stopped me. Said I had to keep it in for another 2 hours. It was so traumatic my mom couldn't even be in the room to watch me fight that damn tube. Once out of me, I calmed down and cooperated. I stayed in the ICU overnight and moved to my new room the following day. I ended up doing so incredibly well that I was released on Sunday, 3 days earlier than planned. I got my chest tube drains out prior to leaving, along with my external jugular central line IV. My mom changed her flight a total of 4 times in order to stay with me and help my family recover from all my surgeries. 3 surgeries in a month! OUCH!

Heart surgeon, Dr. Stephen Maniscalco 


Cardiologist, Dr. Amilcar Avendano