Hello everyone!! 

I figured it was time for an update because as of January 16th, 
I AM OFFICIALLY ONE YEAR IN REMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 
What a fuckin YEAR its been, but I am so happy to be on the other side of it. I could go on and on and on about how amazing it feels to see that year in the rearview, but I'm sure you can imagine. 

So since I was last here, I had my reconstruction surgery and it went off without a hitch! I took some time off of work, some time off of working out, and just enjoyed some R&R. Things are looking more symmetrical, but not quite like I would like them-- and this is a great segway to my next update: 

I'm having bilateral breast fat grafting surgery tomorrow. If you remember WAY back, these are the surgeries that Mitch joked about me becoming a model ;) Basically Dr Lemaine is going to enter through my belly button, suck out fat from my tummy (and hopefully takes extra haha), and then she'll enter through the mastectomy scars on each breast and inject fat around the implants to make them look more symmetrical, round, and 'model' me right up! lol So it's a 'minor' surgery as far as surgeries go. I'll have a few of these same surgeries throughout the year because of things like gravity, allowing the skin to stretch, and for my body to heal and see how it's all looking. And maybe sign me a modeling contract once it's all done hahaha

I'm feeling anxious because it's surgery, but excited to be nearing the end of the surgery path. Send up all the good vibes, prayers and happy thoughts for a quick and easy recovery. 

As per a quick life update; work has been going SOOOOOO great. I hate to brag but I seriously love my job. I've been working on a lot of creative projects lately (logos, a tshirt, and a 24 page coloring book) and I love the team I'm a part of. I hit the jackpot as far as a work family goes, they're funny, talented, kind, thoughtful, and badass, and not to mention they've been so supportive and understanding with all of my health/wellness stuff. I don't know how I would've gotten through this pandemic without them on the other side of the screen. 

I've also been seeing a lymphedema specialist once a week/biweekly for about 8 weeks now. I was having a weird tennis elbow pain, as well as some swelling in my right arm/hand, and well, turns out I have a mild/light case of [lymph]edema, and my legs/feet have some edema as well. The arm edema makes sense because it's the same arm that had lymph nodes taken back in January 2020. And I thought the swelling in my feet was just from chemo, but after talking with the specialist, she was like 'noooo you've got fluid built up there, too'. AND she pointed out that my stomach felt really hard, which I've noticed but thought it was just fat or whatever, but turns out once one lymph 'highway' (armpit) has traffic, the whole lymphatic system can get messed up. So I've retained a lot of fluid and it explains why I've felt like such a puffy balloon lately. So at each appointment, the specialist gives me lymphatic massage, which is like a light touching or squeegee-ing of the limbs back towards my heart to get the traffic moving again.

After every appointment, I can confidently say that WOW IT WORKS. I can see bones in my ankle/foot that I haven't seen since chemo, and I haven't had the tennis elbow feeling in over a month! She also taught me how to wrap my limbs when I sleep, prescribed me some compression socks, and a sleeve & glove for my right arm. So if you ever see my right arm completely covered all the way to my fingertips, that's why. Hopefully my lymph system will continue to get better (with exercise, lymphatic massage, wraps, and dieting) and the sleeve/compression socks will only be needed for special occasions like flights, hikes, or intense workouts. 

Another good segway--- I've still been seeing the same personal trainer and things are going great! My arm can go straight up, lift things above my head and everything! It's seriously made such a difference that I don't think I could've done alone. So shoutout to NeuLife Wellness & my trainer Madi for pushing me but also helping me SAFELY push my limits without hurting myself. 

SOooooOOOoOOoooo 

I think that's all for now! 

Reminder that Covid is still a thing, keep wearing your mask and lets keep powering through this pandemic so we can have 'normal' life sometime this YEAR. Thanks for listening, and take care of yourselves and your communities ❤️

So until [maybe] next time,  

P.S. 
Thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and positive energy needed for my Auntie Jodi. She is going to be battling breast cancer for a THIRD time, starting with a bilateral mastectomy on Wednesday the 27th if all goes as planned. I really hope that the surgery does the trick and this fucking cancer LEAVES MY FAMILY ALONE. Let this be a reminder to all of you ladies out there to GET YOUR GIRLS CHECKED. Anyway, love you Auntie Jodi, and now it's your turn to be a 'big brave dog' and channel the inner Mama/Sister Jeanna as you fight your battle. You got this!!!! Please visit her caringbridge and leave some prayers and well wishes for her to read! https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jodibyland