I'm Back

I came home from the hospital today, in pretty good shape, considering what I've been through. 10 hours of surgery, mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, at the University of California, San Francisco.

I'm putting this info up here because the existence of the Breast Care Center at UCSF is a sign of hope. Healing garden, patient-created art tiles on the walls, complementary medicine, a multi-disciplinary team of doctors and other professionals of the highest caliber -- all of these combined to give me the best possible care. I am profoundly grateful for the chance to be treated at UCSF. I would have survived elsewhere, but I would not have the beautiful results, nor would I have had the full range of caring treatment I received. Medicine is not just about surgery and pharmacology. The UCSF Breast Center treats the whole patient: body, emotions and soul.

The doctors who treated me are all true "mensches" as well as top flight surgeons. Dr. Laura Esserman is a goddess; Dr. Robert Foster is an artist and a truly humble man as well as a born teacher; and Dr. Gabriel Kind, besides being the only microvascular surgeon for a thousand miles who can do this work, is genuinely kind. I reached these conclusions on my own, but staff members and underlings uniformly echoed these comments about each of these doctors.

I normally don't give medical professionals much deference. These folks are all of good character and deep souls as well as being hot shot doctors.

Thanks to all of you out there in blog world for your kind wishes. Your support has meant so much to me in these last trying weeks.

Don't know how much blogging I'll feel like doing, but I'll keep looking for signs of hope!

Comments

[sophyQ]

I'm so glad you're back! Glad also that it went well. Now you take the time to heal. You'll no doubt be going through some new stuff inside your self, emotional as well as physical.

[ziana]

welcome back! hope you get lots of rest and my best wishes for a smooth recovery.

[Rachel]

Glad it went smoothly! I wish you healing -- as the blessing goes, "renewal of body and renewal of spirit, speediy."

[Leila]

Thanks so much, Sophie, Ziana, and Rachel. I appreciate all your kind blessings.

I am still doing fine. Today walked around the block! This hurt my stitches so I had to have a nap. But I'm doing well.

[islamoyankee]

O Layla! Have you heard the wailing of Qays in your absence?
We are all Majnun now!

So nice to have you back. My prayers for your rapid recovery and many years of good health.

[Leila]

Dearest Islamoyankee, you are too darling. My father wanted to name my little brother Qays but my (American) mother said it was too hard for Americans to pronounce. They settled on Khalil (that's easier?). Anyway, I know the tale well. You flatter me!

Thanks for your kind prayers.