Race For Life and My Amazing Sister!

On Wednesday 11 May 2011, as regulars to my blog will know, Erin had a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction. I was so relieved to hear that the surgery was successful, and Erin went home from the hospital on Saturday 14 May.

The next week, I proudly took part in Race for Life for Cancer Research UK here in Birmingham along with hundreds and hundreds of other women. I didn't do it with anyone (although David went with me for moral support), I just wanted to do it.

On my first lap of Cannon Hill Park, I took a picture to post on Facebook so everyone could see one of the goals I set for myself:




I had to beat the girl in the banana costume.

But amazingly, while I was on Facebook, after spending so much time reading the signs on everyone else's backs at Race for Life saying why they were participating, this popped up from Erin: "Run Forrest run!"

Okay, cute. But there was more:

"God is so good!!! We got great news at the Oncologist today. The pathologist report came back & only showed .4cm of preinvassive cancer cells in all the breast tissue they took out last week (meaning they were not invassive cells & had not broken out of the nucleus & spread)."

What a positive message to carry me on the next 4.75K of my run! Alright ... My walk.

I did have a bigger goal than just beating the girl in the banana costume (who, I can confirm) finished at least ten minutes behind me). I wanted my unfit overweight self to finish in under an hour. Easy for Paula Radcliffe but this is me we're talking about.

I did it in 51 minutes 48 seconds!







My achievement is nothing compared to Erin's. Mine was a hill to get over. Not even a hill. I might as well have walked over a sleeping policeman. (Translation for Americans: speed bump.)

Erin not only fought hard against her cancer, but eleven days post surgery, in Texas she took part in the Survivor's Lap at Relay for Life.




I have one hell of a sister.



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Surgery Success!

Despite Texas weather knocking the power out (though thankfully not to the operating theatre), my sister Erin made it through her bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery - aka the Boob Job - with flying colours!

The nurses got her up and about last night and she reports having had a relatively good night. She's already talking about shopping for a cute dress to wear to my oldest son's wedding in August.





I really have to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, positive energy and prayers. The war isn't over yet, but the enemy is in retreat!

And thank you to Teresa Strange, a good friend of Erin's from whom I stole the picture!

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It's the Big Day!

Well it has seemed much longer than six months to reach this point. Erin has checked into hospital for her bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Or as I call it, her "boob job".

Isn't laughter one of the world's greatest holistic therapies? There are no serious side effects (although a pain in the side and a rare tendency to wee oneself can occur). You can share your treatment as well, so when people offer sympathetic words about wishing they could go through treatment with you, they can.

But it's a treatment only the strongest people can have. Pessimists will reject it as if it was an organ transplant. It's a good thing my sister has taken this kind of medicine regularly!

Today my family is going to need this treatment in big doses. The mastectomy is expected to last four hours while the reconstruction has been estimated at seven. If my brother-in-law Kevin didn't already have a head start, he would probably have little hair left by the time this day is over.

(In my defence, Erin said it first!)

I don't do praying. It's just the way I am - the Wiccan/pagan or whatever label you want to put on me - but I believe that sending positive energy to Erin is similar to what those who are offering their prayers to my sister are doing. I'm doing a lot of positive energy sending today!

I will post updates on Twitter for anyone interested: @melindarice.

And for those of you with a generous nature and aren't afraid to show it, don't forget to visit my Just Giving page to help in the fight against breast cancer with a donation to Cancer Research UK. I'm also "running" (as if!) in Race for Life in one week!


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The Next Step in the Breast Adventure

I've been a useless blogger recently! The only excuse I have is work and kids, but that doesn't mean I haven't been keeping in touch with Erin or that I've given up on my fundraiser! In fact I'm participating (notice I didn't say "running") in Race for Life on 18 May! And here's the gratuitous fundraising link: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/melindaknowles0702.

Erin continues to fight breast cancer with a strength I find unbelievable and at the same time I'm not surprised either. And because Darla is so much better at explaining these things, I'm stealing her latest update again!

"Erin is about to embark on the next phase of her "breast" adventure ... SURGERY.

Tomorrow (5/3/11) she will have a sentinel biopsy of the lymph nodes in her armpits. Her procedure is at 7:15 a.m. at Baylor Garland Plaza IV. Please pray that the surgeon finds NO cancer cells in her lymph nodes. If there are some present, the surgeon will remove the affected lymph node(s) and place a drain.

Erin's big surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11th at Baylor Garland. She has opted for a double mastectomy. If you recall from my last email, Erin will have the latissimus flap breast procedure immediatly following her mastectomy, which will be performed by a plastic surgeon. She is expected to stay in the hospital at least 4 days. Kevin is taking off a week and a half from work to help care for Erin following her surgery."







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