I can’t believe it was a year ago that I had my post-mastectomy reconstruction surgery! After the complications I had after my mastectomy (aka boob hole drama), it’s a miracle the surgery went as well as it did, and that I didn’t need to have an additional surgery. As happy as I was, I was constantly worried that I wouldn’t heal properly, or that the necrosis/boob hole would happen again.

But now, it’s been a year, and my “foobs” feel like my own.  Sometimes, I only remember these are “foobs” when they’re sore before it rains, kind of like Karen from Mean Girls. I can lie on my stomach with no pain, stretch my arms all over the place with no problem, and had my first year without a mammogram since 2008. I still have clinical breast exams, yearly appointments with my reconstructive surgeon, and yearly ultrasounds with my breast surgeon (plus all the other non-breast cancer related fun BRCA screenings) – but I no longer have to sit in a waiting room worrying after they ask me to do another mammogram because of a suspicious image.

I’m really happy that I did what was best for me and went forward with these crazy surgeries to reduce my breast cancer risk, even though looking back, doing it while in nursing school was kind of insane. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, and community. Special shoutout to my amazing hubby who has always been so supportive and such a great caregiver, my family, and all my nursing school homies who took shifts at our house during this whole process – taking care of me, even helping me shower, and of course binge-watch reality tv with me. I love you all!