On May 21, 2022, I will be back in San Antonio, Texas for a celebration of 10K breast reconstruction flaps. This event is put together by the plastic surgery group who did my DIEP flap surgery in December of 2014. This day holds great significance for me. I am grateful to PRMA for their fantastic efforts and support putting this 10K race together to celebrate the 10K flap surgeries they have performed for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you to the sponsors who are generously supporting this race.
Honoring All the Patients Who Have Chosen Flap Surgery
The 10K breast reconstruction flaps race is being held in San Antonio. The real honor goes to ladies across the world who have chosen or are planning flap surgery after being affected by breast cancer and losing their breasts to the disease. Over the years since I started my nonprofit organization, DiepCFoundation, to provide support and educational resources, women from around the globe have made this difficult decision.
With so much that goes into this process, I only offer my support and validation of how much work you put into this. It requires knowing what all your options are, understanding the risks and benefits, assessing your own values and preferences in order to have a shared decision-making conversation with your surgeon, garnering support for recovery, and living a purposeful life after surgery. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The morning of race day, you will all be honored and I will make sure of that!
Celebrating the Surgeons Behind the Mask for Breast Reconstruction
Microsurgery requires years of dedicated schooling and training. It takes grit, compassion, and perseverance to deal not only with the rigors of the surgery but also patients, their families, and all the dedicated staff who collaborate with you. Your goal is to help each patient have a seamless experience with their flap surgery. Reality tells us otherwise. I know there are times you face challenges and failures. Your days are gratifying but we know you face hardships as well.
Your training strives for perfection and aesthetic outcomes that specialize in #RebuildingLives after #BreastCancer, common hashtags used at PRMA. Having had the privilege of meeting all of the PRMA surgeons, I know this to be the case. Being given the privilege of meeting surgeons across the world since my own DIEP flap, I know this to be the case for you as well. The morning of the race, you will be honored and I will make sure of that!
Paying Tribute to All Caregivers Who Support Those Having Breast Reconstruction
There are many important components of recovery after flap-based breast reconstruction. For many of us, the quiet, unspoken heroes are our caregivers. It was the case for me. Whether you are surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones who help you during recovery, or are single and count on assistance and care from a paid or volunteer caregiver, we could not do this without you. The drains and showering itself become a chore the first few days after release from the hospital. Thank you for cooking, driving, and conducting daily tasks that were so simple for us before surgery.
You sat with us in consults, carefully placed our pillows while we rested, wiped our tears, laughed aloud with us while we held a pillow against our tummies to protect our abdominal incision, helped us shop for new bras, and sat long hours in waiting rooms and hospitals to hear from our surgeons with word of the completion of our surgery. The morning of the race, you will be honored and I will make sure of that!
With Gratitude to my Breast Reconstruction “C Team”
My deepest gratitude goes out to Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and his nurse Denise Coronado Campos. How did we all end up with a last name that begins with “C”? So, when I refer to my “C” team, this is who they are. We are a threesome, a “TeamTerri” that made my experience having DIEP flap breast reconstruction nearly seamless. When I would look at Dr. C with an important question, I often sent a glance Denise’s way for verification. I love her for that and the confidence I have in her compassionate and professional nursing skills. She is your strongest asset Dr. C, but you know that.
Dr. C, I was PRMA’s flap #5448 and #5449 you and Dr. Oscar Ochoa performed on me December 1, 2014. What I did not realize then is that you would become a mentor, a trusted friend, and unwavering counselor in my advocacy work for those affected by breast cancer. The day I received a call from you on your way home, encouraging me to open a nonprofit organization was life changing. We both know the importance of this support and I want to thank you for trusting me to carry this responsibility and standing beside me. We have more work to do!
Denise, and Dr. C, the morning of the race, you will be honored and I will make sure of that! I look forward to a celebration of 10K breast reconstruction flaps, although I know as I am writing this, it is now 10,500! Congratulations to Team PRMA!
