Journal entry by Kristen Asleson —
I am one month out of surgery and doing better with each day that passes. It is a long, painful process I have discovered. I go back every week to have my wounds checked and have saline added to my tissue expanders. It is incredibly sore, and I am so tired of laying on my back! Under the skin I am stitched vertically on each side of what were my boobs and then across the top where the pec muscles met my breast tissue. Rolling over is hard. I am still on all the restrictions - no laundry, no dishes, no vacuuming. Anything that repetitively uses my arms I can’t do. I can’t get them above elbow level either which sucks. It all sucks.
But on the flip side, I am largely cancer free. Of course they can’t guarantee they got all the tissue so I have to go back every six months for five years. I will have one more surgery in 3-6 months when I have fully healed from this recovery period.
I am filled with appreciation and gratitude to all of the people who have made us a casserole, made us soup, given kids rides, donated to the GoFundMe site and helped with random things.
I am also incredibly lucky that Haley Polin was on her 1 month break from college and had a personal nurse on hand. The docs even gave her the tools to remove my drains which she did without any problems. She checks my wounds, my drains and watches for any problems.
It also helps that Lindsey Polin had her baby boy, Ashton, so whenever I need to relax, he is plopped in my arms and I don't have a choice.
A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Kristen's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?
