Hernias and Hip Dysplasia and Cancer, Oh My!

One of the greatest blessings God has given me since I was diagnosed with breast cancer ten days ago is the perspective of dear friends who've been through this experience.

Some of the most helpful advice I've received was,

"Take your time with asking questions and doing research. It's important. I know that after you get the diagnosis you feel you need to get on with the surgery yesterday, but really you have time." 

 "I think you are wise to get Rick's and the dog's surgeries out of the way. You have time to get your ducks in a row."

Although I don't think I'll ever have my ducks in a row, this was very reassuring advice. Before I got my diagnosis, we were already planning for Rick to have a long overdue hernia repair and had also scheduled surgery for one of our dogs.

I had enrolled in a lower deductible medical plan for 2013, mainly because Rick needed surgery, so we had scheduled his consultation with the surgeon early in the new year. Because he is self employed, he is covered under my employer's medical plan. When we got my diagnosis, his first inclination was to put his surgery on a back burner, but I thought we had already delayed it longer than we should have.

So Thursday of this past week, he went with me for the consultation with my surgeon and Friday I took him for his hernia surgery. It seems to have gone very well and he is resting at home. 

This Monday, I will have my MRI and then wait for results which will tell me whether I'm a candidate for lumpectomy or will need mastectomy. Wednesday, we plan to go ahead with Zoe's surgery.

I'll probably schedule mine the following week if it's lumpectomy, maybe the week after if it's going to be mastectomy with reconstruction. That way Rick will have had ten days or more to recover and we will be able to take good care of Zoe for at least her first week after surgery. Of course none of this is very predictable, but that's our tentative plan.

I already feel more peace knowing that Rick has had his much needed hernia repair. And although factoring a dog's medical needs into all this might sound crazy, people who've ever loved a pet might understand. Once I'm dealing with my own surgery and recovery, it would make me feel so much worse to be watching my sweet dog suffering and falling on the floor when her legs collapse under her. I think it will help my frame of mind to know that we've started the process that we hope is going to extend her life beyond her seven years and improve her quality of life. After all, a breast cancer patient needs her therapy dog(s)

 
And speaking of getting my ducks in a row, sometime before I go in for surgery, I hope to make time to clean the house!