The End of Mile 18... The Good...The Bad...and The Ugly

If I count reconstructions, I have probably actually hit Mile 20. My Mohs surgeon says we can clear up the rest of my head and face in 3 surgery days. That is GOOD.

Scalp stitches ready to be removed

My reconstruction surgeon says my new hairline should fill in. That is GOOD. My new hair line will be a little different. My old hairline housed an interesting cowlick so maybe that is gone. My vision with my glasses has returned to 20/20. That also is GOOD. The skin graft over the bridge of my nose has taken to its new home like it was born there. That too is very GOOD.

scalp stitches are gone and new hairline may have a dip

Unfortunately the top part of the graft on my forehead did not take and is dead. This is the area at the end of my suture line that looks scabby. That is BAD. The surgeon still thinks I will heal as well as I have with other surgery sites. He seems somewhat pleased that even part of the graft here took. Something about the skin on the forehead make it a very difficult area to graft.

The UGLY is that cancer does not just affect the humans we love it affects our pets as well. My husband and I rescued Harley over 8 years ago from a neglectful and abusive situation. He has spent the last 5 years living with my mother as her personal body guard after my step father passed away. Harley went to be with Jesus, Tuesday 5/6/2014. Cancer had taken his kidneys and liver.

Harley says "yum"

Take Away Nugget: Check your treasure chest. Are you keeping what really matters close to your heart? Do your thoughts, words and actions show others who you really want them to see?

INTERMISSION between Miles

4/25/14 one week after Mile 18

This is where things stood my last post. I was a week post op and wanting to rethink this journey all together. There are two grafts associated with this last surgery. The first on my forehead and the second on the bridge of my nose. That is what is hidden under the packing. The band aid on the tip of my nose is only an attempt to have something to hold my glasses on. My granny always said, "God has a sense of humor and he knows exactly how to get your attention". Isn't that the understatement of the year.

On Tuesday the 29th I had follow up appointments with both surgeons. My Mohs surgeon says my scalp sites are still healing marvelously. My reconstruction surgeon removed the stitches from my nose and central forehead area. Stage one of two suture removals. He told me he shared my case with some of his peers. One of them asked him if his Mohs surgeon hated him. I had to laugh, he has closed over 30 tumor sites on me in three surgeries. I am a test of his skills. So here I am today. The stitches in my scalp and down to my first graft are the ones to be removed Tuesday the 6th of May.

5/01/14 two weeks after Mile 18

With this surgery people have new assumptions as to what happened to me. Prior to this one a lot of people assumed I am a burn victim. Now the assumption is a car accident. I am a bit sarcastic in nature especially on "bad" days. A contractor working on my home yesterday did not say anything yet could not stop looking at me. I told him this is what it looks like if you live to tell that you were texting and driving. He did not look again. My husband said I needed a "time out".

I am in healing intermission from surgeries. My next surgery date is June 4th. I have been at this over a year. Next week I have an appointmet with my primary doctor to have a general checkup. He has not seen me since last July. That should be nteresting in itself.

So Happy May Day to all and God Bless.