Following her diagnosis of Stage III Breast Cancer in March of last year my wife will undergo reconstructive surgery beginning next Monday at MD Anderson.

Since her initial diagnosis, she has endured a mastectomy, 6 months of intense chemotherapy followed by 33 radiation treatments and she did it all with dignity and grace.

However, it was not without many ups and downs.

Now she is entering the "home stretch" (literally) and she's ready to move on and put this behind her.

The reconstructive procedure is not a "walk in the park" and there will be many more ups and downs in the weeks to follow.

Please keep her in your prayers as we move towards closing this chapter in her circle of life.

Thanks ... 

I just read your Caring Bridge page... Tell "B" she is always in our prayers. She is SO strong and brave! Given the same circumstances, I'd like to think that I would show half of the class that she has. Please keep us updated on her recovery. 

Many prayers for her and you Pepper. Remember if he brings you to it, he will bring you through it. 

Thanks guys, and FBII, we really appreciate your prayers on her CaringBridge web page. 

Pepper

This sounds like exciting news for you and your wife. Prayers that she has an easy surgery and fast recovery. I know you both will be glad when this is behind you. 

Thank you Oma ...

As much as she wanted the "tummy tuck' she will have to settle for the "flap" procedure due to her Leukemic condition.

We are so ready to have this behind us ... 

Many prayers. Hug her tight for me !! Tell her we all love and are with y'all on this next journey 

Prayers for her and you too, Pepper. 

Ya'll are great ... thanks. 

Many, many prayers will be said for her and for you. I will say to let us know if there is anything we can do to help but knowing you, you have it all under control.

Please do keep us updated. 

Your dw is very lucky to have such a great support system. The support is very lucky to have her. Praying for all of y'all. 

Pepper

Your story is my greatest fear. I will pray for you tonight and every night.

Stay strong. 

Pep, many prayers for you, B and J. I feel so bad, because I haven't seen you guys in quite a while, but I do think of B from time to time, and hope that she is doing well. Glad to know the worst is behind her, and prayers for a speedy recovery. 

Pepper...we will keep the prayers going for your DW, and you also...hang in there 

Thanks everyone

We need to be at Anderson by 9:30 tomorrow morning for her to be prepped. Surgery is scheduled to start at 11:30 and we're told it will take approximately 4 hours.

Afterwards, she'll spend 2, possibly 3, nights in the hospital before she can come home. It all depends on how quickly she can stand, walk and take care of her special needs.

In the meantime, she has been "nesting" around the house getting things in order before tomorrow.

We went down this road after the mastectomy last year and the next 3 to 4 weeks will not be a walk in the park. In fact, this time she'll have 3 drains instead of 1 drain that I'll have to manage.

Since I don't have a job to go to (the benefit of being semi-retired), I'm in a position to take care of these things.

Thanks again for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Oh ya', her surgeon is the "Chair" of the Breast Reconstruction Department at Anderson, and he's also the surgeon who performed reconstruction surgery on Phil Mickelson's Mother ... I'd say she's in good hands. 

We will all have you and your precious wife in our thoughts tomorrow. It sounds like you have been through so much already....I hope this is the final surgery for you two.

Froggie hugz to ya!

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Thanks Froggie, actually there will be a couple more over the next 3 months, but this one will be the "biggie".

Since they will be inserting an "expander", she'll have to go back every few weeks in order for the doctor to inject fluids to continue stretching the skin.

Once that is done, they'll remove the expander and insert the implant. At the same time, they'll give her a "lift" on the other side so that she'll have a matched set.

The entire process will probably take roughly 3 months to complete.

After that, with the exception of routine check-ups, she should be good to go ... 

wow....but like you said, you are on the home stretch! I hope 2014 is a much better year for you guys. New year....new "girls" and hopefully she will be 100%

= ] 

Prayers!!! 

Okay, she was moved out of surgery at 6:00 and is in recovery. She's sleeping and will probably sleep for the next hour, or two.

The doctor said everything went well, there was a slight complication with some skin that was damaged by the radiation, but otherwise, all went well.

Later this evening they'll move her to a private room where she'll probably stay until Wednesday before she can come home.

Gotta tell, the doctors and nurses at Anderson are a class act. It takes a special person to do what they do and I admire that.

FBII, I got your PM and thank you. I'll let you know if we need anything, but for the moment I think we've got it under control. Thanks again. 

Glad the surgery went well. Hopefully this will soon be all behind you. You two need to come up with something big to celebrate. 

Pepper....I'm so sorry, with everything happening today, I completely forgot about your sweet wife. I'm glad things went as well as they could. You both will be in my thought tonight.

Please keep us informed...we are after all...a bit of a family here. 

Good to hear it went well...continued prayers for complete healing... 

I have been praying for her today. MD Anderson is wonderful. She is in good hands with them, you and the Lord. Time will pass for this and she will have it all behind her. Tell her we all say Hi and we are praying for her. 

Happy momma P is resting well. Give her my love and hugs!! Lick Charlie and Popcorn too while your at it! :)