The warmth of the traveling pashmina is not a title I thought I would be creating for a blog post. This is what I love about writing. You can take the smallest gestures of kindness and share those most meaningful stories from them. This story spans both time and space. You must read this to the end. It promises to warm your heart.
The Gift of the Pashmina
The days leading up to my double mastectomy were filled with emotion, planning, preparing, and letting go. This was my second breast cancer diagnosis. I was no stranger to the shock of multiple doctor’s appointments, coordinating care between my health care team, and the understanding that my body was about to undergo an assault of surgical treatments and recovery I wish I did not have to think about. The biggest of those changes was losing my breasts. My first diagnosis involved lumpectomy. I was facing much more this time.
Friends and family stood by me unconditionally for the second time. One friend knew me well and what I was going to be going through. Her name is Susan. Like me, she faced loss of breasts. Susan knew the emotional trauma I was facing. But my friend Susan, in all her Italian flair, put her practical proficiency into full gear to help me manage my recovery. Besides telling me to prepare a place of recovery for myself upon my return home, she gifted me with a pashmina.
Wrapped in Warmth after my Mastectomy
I received a package in the mail from Susan before my double mastectomy. It was the pashmina. Let me break down the warmth and style of this pashmina. It is seventy inches long and twenty-six inches wide. The length and width allow the person who wears it to wrap it in various ways around the neck and body for style and warmth. The background is black with classic designs of Pasley and flecks of every color you can image interwoven into the fabric. There is a rich brown design woven into black to give it a classic style.
Imagine sitting in your chair at home recovering after losing your breasts. It’s not glamourous. But for a moment in time, when I took the pashmina Susan gave me and wrapped it around my shoulders, I felt it’s warmth and looked at the beautiful colors in the pashmina. I may have had scars and a flat chest under the pashmina, but I sat in my chair like the Queen of Versace wrapped in it’s style and warmth. Susan knew this might happen when she shopped for it. I feel this way when I wear it today.
The Pashmina Travels to Ellis Island
I attended a conference this month. First, I want to extend my gratitude to the ARSA Summit community and planning committee for one of the finest scientific conferences I have ever been to. Meeting new surgeons who have chosen a profession of returning bodies to form and function after disease and injury is noble and inspiring. It allows me to share access to care for other patients. The evening event to share time together was carefully planned. We traveled by bus and ferry to Ellis Island for the evening.
Susan, my dear stylish friend, recently traveled to New York so I consulted with her to help me plan my evening wardrobe. I chose a simple, black, evening cocktail dress that would require a warm jacket for the trip over. I tucked the pashmina in my purse to wear across my arms to keep me warm after we arrived at the event. The deep tones and colors of the pashmina were a perfect compliment to the black dress. All the history behind the wrap only added to my joy in carrying it with me that evening.
Sharing the Warmth
My double mastectomy was followed by a successful delayed DIEP flap procedure. You can read more about it in the blog I wrote. The surgeon who performed my reconstructive surgery was at the conference. Many of you know him, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, if you read my work. He has become a trusted mentor in my nonprofit work.
I had an open seat on the bus. I saw him walk onto the bus. He paused beside my seat, smiled, and asked, “Is this seat taken?;” as if I was going to turn him down! We had a nice, long, catch up chat as we meandered through the streets of New York and made our way over to the ferry terminal.
Once we got off the bus we realized we had quite a walk over to the terminal. It was along the waterfront, so the chill of the evening air hit us when we exited the bus. I was very glad to have the warm coat I wore. Dr. C had on a men’s suit, no overcoat. I saw his shoulders hunch over and he shivered a bit, so I told him to stop for a moment. Taking the pashmina out of my purse I gave it to him and told him to wrap it around him neck and shoulders. He opened his arm in a gesture I interpreted as gratitude. I slipped my arm through his as we made our way warmly over to the ferry.
Physical and Emotional Support
The trip to Ellis Island was my first. Once we arrived at the event, I walked around to meet new folks, reconnect with some I already knew, and enjoy the sites and sounds of the museum. Dr. C did the same. My plan was to wear the pashmina throughout the night. However, when I saw him mingling with his peers and how carefully and stylishly he wrapped the pashmina over his suit, I couldn’t bear to ask for it. It made me smile seeing him wear it knowing where I got it and why I received it.
I could feel it was keeping him warm. At one point during the evening, we strolled back to the museum area to look at the history and stories of Ellis Island. I didn’t see the pashmina until the next day. He wore it for the duration of the evening. Dr. C texted me Friday telling me he was packing up to go meet his daughter at her college apartment for the rest of the weekend. He folded it neatly and handed it back to me.
I hesitated for a moment and looked at him asking if he brought a warm coat to wear while visiting his daughter. He smiled and nodded letting me know he had brought a heavier casual coat to wear. I was going to hand it back to him to wear for the weekend and have him mail it back when he was finished with it.
I would have gladly given it to him, but I think the warmth of the traveling pashmina may have more stories to tell. Dr. C, Kind Sir, no one wears it better than you! It will be here if you ever need it.
