surgery
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My First Week Back at Work After Surgery: A Humbling Reminder
Coming back to work after surgery felt like walking into a space I once knew but now had to relearn. I told myself I’d ease back in, be gentle with my body, honor the healing process. And I really thought I understood what that meant. But this first week? It reminded me how much I Continue reading
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Surprise! I Finally Got My Hair Done—And It Felt Like Coming Back to Life
It’s wild how much we can put off when we’re just trying to survive. For me, something as simple as a hair appointment slowly became this massive emotional hurdle. I hadn’t been to a real salon since before my mom passed away—over 4.5 years ago. And then, earlier this year, I had surgery, which took Continue reading
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Soft Toes & Soothing Moments: A Pedicure After the Pain
It’s been a minute since I treated myself, and today felt like the perfect time. I got a much-needed pedicure and let me just say, it felt amazing. Like, close your eyes and sigh kind of amazing. The warm water, the gentle scrubbing, the soft touch on my skin—it all felt extra special this time. Continue reading
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Recovery: A Journey of Patience and Resilience
It’s been a long and challenging road, and I still have four more weeks of recovery ahead of me. Each day brings a mix of hope and frustration. I want to move forward, but my body is reminding me that I need to be patient. The restrictions placed on me are tough to live with, Continue reading
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Pathology Update
I had surgery a few days ago, and I’m so relieved to share that everything came back benign – absolutely no cancer! The mass that was removed was a very large mature cystic teratoma. One unexpected finding was that my left fallopian tube was fused shut, meaning it wasn’t open the way it should be. Continue reading
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Losing My Left Ovary: Healing, Grieving, and Learning to Live in My Body Again
It still hasn’t fully hit me. Three days ago, I lost my left ovary and fallopian tube. The words feel surreal, like they belong to someone else. My mind knows it happened, but my heart hasn’t caught up yet. Maybe because the pain is louder than my thoughts, or maybe because I’m not ready to Continue reading
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The Weight of Healing: Reflections on Surgery and Pain
Day two, and the pain is relentless. It moves through me in waves: sharp, deep, and unforgiving. I’ve always been a side sleeper, but now my body resists every position, every shift, every attempt at comfort. My bed, once a place of rest, now feels foreign, incapable of holding me through this. So, I’ve surrendered Continue reading
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Surgery, Cysts, and Coffee
I had surgery today, and honestly, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I was wheeled into the OR, scared out of my mind, not really knowing what to expect, but I had an amazing medical team that made all the difference. My gynecological oncologist is the top in the area, Continue reading
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Between the Knife and the Unknown
I lie beneath the weight of waiting,the hush before the plunge,where time bends,where breath is borrowed,where the body is a question with no answer. The scalpel sings in silent promise,a whispered hymn of hope and risk.Will I wake to the sun’s golden mercy,or slip into the quiet where names are forgotten? I have traced the Continue reading
The Dreamer's Pen 