My drains are out! I went in yesterday morning, the nurse said take a big breath in, then she told me to exhale it all as she pulled a quarter mile of tubing out from inside me. Or something like that. It was weird, and so relieving.

And watch out — I feel sooooo much better now (from extra mobility/less pain with the drains out, but also just healing in general) that I’m needing some convincing to keep resting.

For those of you (Mom) wondering if I still have cancer, I still don’t know. They said “about a week” to get the pathology report back, but today is day 8 and nothing. (I called, they really don’t have it yet.)

I am surviving and almost thriving by soaking in the love of community. If I didn’t hate silver linings, I’d say that an upside of getting cancer is that people tell you often, in their many and beautiful ways, that they love you. It’s pretty amazing. Walks, calls, texts, emails, cookies, cards, texts with the most gorgeous pictures and poems or emojis arranges like a poem… It is awesome. Don’t stop. 🙂

Things I’ve done since yesterday morning:

Taken walks in the arboretum – hello fall!

Showered without pain

Ordered new bathing suits

Gone out to lunch with Susie

Finished “Reservation Dogs” with Burke (best TV ever)

Taken less and less pain medication

Read about how to read and understand a pathology report

Scheduled many appointments

Talked to social workers

Looked into cancer support groups for parents of young(ish) children

 

Recovering from surgery with energy is so much easier than last week.

Finally, I’ve joined an online community called “Flat and Fabulous” for breast cancer survivors who are choosing not to do reconstruction. Someone posted this painting today, and it is so stunning. I mean, I think that even if I hadn’t just had breast cancer, I would love these beautifully painted images of real women’s naked bodies so much. But especially now. Aleah Chapin is apparently originally from Whidbey Island (!!!) and has her first solo show in New York right now. Check out her work.

(I’m pasting one of the most amazing images below, but without her permission, so someone tell me if I should not do this? I mean, I think there are only about ten of you reading this, but still. Also, maybe someone we know knows her? Or maybe I should just reach out via the internet? Anyway, tentatively and with so much admiration, here’s that painting, which in real life measures 60 x 48 in….)