Good Saturday morning guys! In full transparency, I started this post yesterday typing “Good Friday morning” which only underscores how I have lost complete track of time these days. And now it’s Sunday… 😂 and I’m still writing this post. 

So, I am 11 days post op, healing nicely and venturing back out a little. I was one week and one day post op and we headed out to support the C. T. & Octavia Vivian Museum & Archives Scholarship Foundation with our sweet friends Al & Jo Vivian. That same night we popped over to the Georgia State University President’s Society mixer with GSU President Brian Blake and his lovely wife, Bridget. Friday night we chilled and had a low key double date for pizza on a downtown patio with our friends James & Angie. Yesterday was Pastor Craig Oliver’s (Elizabeth Baptist Church) 50th Birthday Party with Doug E. Fresh — it was too lit 🔥!! Sidebar: Man…80’s & 90’s rap and R&B is just undefeated. We had to scoot out of there to get over to the Lifeline Animal Project Inaugural Good Humans Gala with our friends Tharon & Chynna. A busy few days but all with people we love and admire — and for very worthy causes. 

Everyone asks how I’m feeling and I have to say I’m moving right along and feeling really great 99% of the time. I’m adjusting to this new normal. The new boobs look amazing! My girlfriends are like dayum… they’re perfect. But they do feel very numb and artificial and honestly HUGE 😂  It’s all good until I see photos of myself and I’m like wow whose boobs are those?!! And then I’m like — oh wait, they’re mine! 😅 Admittedly , the recovery after this surgery has been much easier than the first one so no real complaints. I have to still sleep in a bra but I am always reminded things could be so much worse. Also, I think I was so busy overthinking what would happen to my hair throughout all of this that I have actually made it healthier than it’s ever been with leave in conditioners and minimizing heat. I didn’t know if I would need chemo or radiation but was preparing for both…then ended up not needing either. So my hair has actually benefited from the extra attention I’ve given it.

I will say — watch out for those pain meds. Aside from the obvious concerns doctors have about addiction, there’s the CONSTIPATION that can be horrible. If you need to take pain meds, take fiber and supplements. I mean — take them even before you need them!!! Being off the pain meds is great, because obviously it means I’m not in that much pain…but that also means I am not quite sleeping through the night. So that’s one reason I like to stay busy and have been adding events back to the calendar. I’ve not been cleared to workout yet (my surgeon said it could lead to more swelling right now), so when I lay my head down most nights I’m not really tired enough to sleep all night. So getting out is good, but don’t worry — y’all know Patrick and Judi (all the way from South Carolina 😂) are not going to let me overdo it. 

I’ve been enjoying watching the shows everyone recommended. My absolute favorite has been Succession! It’s a lot to unpack in every single episode, but I binged all the seasons and finally got caught up (anxiously awaiting S4, E6 tonight!)…so now I’m checking out the other must watch shows on my pre-op watch list! Stay tuned because I feel some movie reviews coming… 🍿 🎥 

In exciting news, the Fox 5 special (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-county-sheriffs-wife-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer-jacki-labat-shares-her-journey ) with Aungelique Proctor aired this weekend. It turned out even better than I imagined it would. We taped weeks ago and were told it might air in May so we were pleasantly surprised to see it this weekend. One thing y’all know I’m gonna do is keep it 💯, and one thing y’all know Patrick is gonna do is cry 😭. And that just about sums up the whole segment 🤣 I normally can keep it together but when Patrick’s water works kick in, I am usually not too far behind. Remarkably, I held it together. Everyone has called, texted and sent so many kind notes. I am genuinely thrilled to be able to share my story in hopes that it inspires and blesses others. Life comes at you fast!! What a cool new mission to have been assigned. 💞Even through the storms and trials, I am grateful. 

We are kicking things off next month (May is Women’s Health Month and also my birthday 🥳) with my “Positively Pink Luncheon” as well as my first mobile 3D mammogram wellness event with Patrick’s team at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Stay tuned for more information on awareness initiatives, my new podcast and more!

Thank you guys for all of your love and support! Y’all are phenomenal, and I am so proud to let the world know we have the very best village of family, friends and framily. 

Xoxo,

Jacki