"Looking forward" to surgery

SNUGGLE TIME!!

We have been blessed with a 6 year old, 3 year old, and 15 month old who LOVE snuggles!  I want to get in as many snuggles as I can before surgery this Thursday.  I am having a bilateral mastectomy with the beginning stages of reconstruction immediately after (although it is likely that I will not be finished with all the reconstruction procedures for 6-8 months from now).  I am SO GRATEFUL that my cancer is in an area that can be removed.  There is a good chance that I will not need chemotherapy (we are praying for this!), and cutting something that I don't need out sounds way better than putting poison in!  A few people have been asking what to pray for specifically.  I probably won't remember to list everything but here's something to get you started:  that the doctor's will get ALL of the cancer out surgically, that the cancer is not in the lymph nodes, that the doctor's make wise decisions on how much skin tissue to take based on pathology reports, that the pathologists will make the correct recommendations, that surgery will be successful and safe, that God will sustain my family through the marathon of recovery and repeated surgeries, as well as adjustments to long term medications (which normally have side effects), that my kids will feel loved and not be anxious, and that my husband will feel loved and not be anxious but count it as a chance to wholly rely on God.  

So, I have to say that a few of my friends (you know who you are!) have blessed me incredibly over and over, which has led to others blessing us through my friends sharing our story.  I have been so blown away by the outpouring of love on your family.  To be honest, when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I was more stressed about the six week recovery after surgery than the actual diagnosis (call me crazy but I have had a few serious illnesses that could have ended my life and God kept me here!)  So, these friends created a spread sheet to make sure that I had tons of physical help and would heal correctly after surgery . . . and I wish I could show you because it is above and beyond! Their first meeting was actually planned without my knowledge (you know who you are and you are in trouble!).  I've also had two lovely ladies set up fundraiser accounts, not to mention the Women's Bible Study at my church pulling money together for some cute and functional post-mastectomy ensembles! I know so many are sacrificing time and reaching deep into their pockets to help us. These are two of the accounts:  Click here for a Team Jen T-shirt!  and Go Fund Me by a couple of my beautiful friends . . . tells the whole story .  See what I mean?  I feel like I'll never be able to thank those who are supporting me enough.  What a blessing.  My friend told me that she hates cancer, but that she can see God doing beautiful things through it.  I agree.  I've gotten closer with some friends, women have rallied around me, I can't even explain all of it.  

God is good . . . that explains it!