Hit by a Car

Wednesday, May 18th, my brother was hit by a car while riding his bike.  He was taken to Scottsdale Heathcare located at Scottsdale Rd and Osborn.  He has a broken clavicle (in three places), scapula, a couple broken ribs and a shattered elbow.  Friday, May 20th he had surgery to repair the clavicle. He now has a metal plate and screws holding it in place.  The scapula was left alone due to all the muscles that surround it.  The surgeon didn't want to damage any of the muscles.  He's hopeful that it will heal itself.  The elbow was debreded to clean it out and remove the bone spur that broke off during the accident. He's in a lot of discomfort.  The surgeon is hopeful for a full recovery.

Breast Reconstruction Begins

April 3, 2007 at 9:30 am I had my appointment with Dr Rhee Plastic Surgeon to begin the reconstruction process. Today he took measurements to determine what size implants that would look best on my frame. We discussed it and it was determined that I would have a C cup or about 700 cc's. At this appointment it was determined that my incision from my mastectomies were not up to my Dr Rhee's specifications. So, on April18, 2007, I had scar revision surgery at Banner Baywood. It would be several weeks before I had anymore reconstructive surgery, as my Plastic Surgeon wanted these incisions to heal completely before moving forward.

May 30, 2007, I checked into Banner Baywood Hospital at 9:00 am to have the expanders implanted. The surgery was uneventful and I have very little discomfort. I was expecting a lot of pain, but to my surprise I didn't. I had the expanders in for quite some time before the inflating process began.

June 19, 2007, Dr Rhee began the expanding process. This was my first inflation. Each breast received 200 cc's.

June 26, 2007, the second inflation. Each breast received 150 cc's.

July 3, 2007, the third inflation. Each breast received 200 cc's. After this inflation I could feel the tightness in my chest. My inflated breasts were getting harder. I never realized how hard they get. They are like those hard balls that are in the kids bouncy houses. You know what I'm talking about! Your natural breast has some "give" to it, but not these babies! Getting comfortable in bed was another issue. Again, they don't move.

July 17, 2007, my fourth inflation. The left breast received 150 cc's and the right breast received 175 cc's. Immediately after this inflation, Doug and I left for our summer vacation to Utah. I was so glad to get out of town and away from the doctors and I knew my chest needed time to adjust to this last inflation.

August 7, 2007, my last inflation. The left breast received 100 cc's and the right breast 150 cc's The final inflation. My left breast: 800 cc's My right breast: 875 cc's