It has been a complex mental process for me to know when to launch this “DIEP flap Reconstruction Blog”. I am very clear on the purpose which you can reference in the Purpose section of this website. However, when you reach out to others in hopes of helping them by sharing your life’s story your mind becomes muddled with all the responsibilities of just that, responsible blogging. I have been an educator for many years. The nature of my profession has revolved around planning, writing goals and objectives, organizing, and most importantly maintaining confidentiality with precious and valuable information regarding my students and their parents/guardians. With all those parameters in my head and my heart I was searching for the just right time to launch my blog.
I realize that the only just right time to launch it is now. I will let it evolve with dignity, honesty and passion. I will share my journey of reconstructing a purposeful life after twice being diagnosed with breast cancer and more recently having DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
That being said, it is my blog so I will define the goals, objectives, and the parameters of its content. Written in many other blogs I see the statement, “My views are my own.” Well, it’s no different for me. I will share with you my experience and my journey. The positives that you take from it and intertwine into your own life are your decision. That is the very purpose, the goal, of this blog, to share my Journey in hopes there is a positive connection and take away for the reader.
Focus on that word positive. Will there be some emotional and heavy stories shared in this blog? Absolutely! Many of those stories are what catapulted me into this cathartic, literary journey. However, my end message will always steer back to the positive.
I respect the fact that each individual is made of a unique fabric and their values, their views may not align with mine. But, I will continue to honor and nourish my own unique, positive fabric. Therefore, I will respectfully not engage in what I refer to as negative minutia. What keeps me going and feeling vibrantly alive is to focus on the positive. There are plenty of naysayers around who can accommodate sharing such thoughts but you won’t find responses to that in my writings.
There will be a plethora of information as my blog develops. When the focus is to provide medical or factual information I will do my best to post evidence-based content and websites relying on those professionals I have trusted and connected with to help me. This blog is here for the purpose of presenting information and stories to you in a professional and true manner to the best of my resources and abilities.
I will also write fun and random posts to keep it real and keep it cool and amusing. There are truly those days when we need to “cry ‘til we’re dry” but I quite simply prefer to love and laugh. I hope my blog-shares will more often than not get you giggling hard and long until your belly hurts or at least causes you to break into a grin sitting in front of your computer all alone in the quiet of your domain or while you are holding your phone and checking your daily social media updates and connections.
I am of Irish decent, in part, and I hold on to that dearly. I have Irish storytellers and poets, J.B. Yeats, James Joyce, and Frank McCourt to name a few. I am an educator, daughter, wife, and mother and have always enjoyed writing and telling a good story. It is with that heritage in mind that I chose a very dear friend and artist to create the watercolor sketch and design for the DiepCJourney and DiepCFoundation platform. Meagan believed in my vision from day one and I am so happy that I can present her art work as part of my story. We both have that deep Irish connection and the partnership worked seamlessly. Thank you, Meagan.
That’s it! That sums it up. Now stay tuned for blog post number two. Yes, I just dangled the carrot and will see you back next time after our initial Diep Flap blog launch.
Ter, this is awesome Such a blessing to have you as one of our best friends and an example of how to share with love. All our prayers that this has a profound effect on many many people.
Thank you so much, Randy. You know this journey would not have been complete or in large part possible without the support from you both. It is a pleasure to reach out and support folks making such a complex decision.