A TALE OF TWO SHANNONS

I want to give a shout out to two Shannons. Both are breast cancer sistahs that I met online. They don't know each other, but were recently "introduced" online via yours truly. (I met one of them in person earlier this year, and hope to meet the other one day soon.)

Shannon #1 lives down South and is six weeks out from surgery to correct a botched reconstruction.

Shannon #2 lives up North and is in surgery today, also to correct a botched reconstruction.

Both of these women had completed their reconstructive journeys...
They had bilateral mastectomies with immediate tissue expander placement; they went through the multiple month-long tissue expansion process; they had their final "exchange" surgeries (like I just did) to receive their permanent implants.

Both Shannons thought they were done. But things don't always go according to plan. S*** happens. Reconstruction, like cancer, has a mind of its own.

Today, I'd like to honor and support these two Shannons. To Shannon #1: You are a brave woman who has been through the ringer and come out the other side stronger and with great new foobs to boot! Your story is a beacon of light for all those struggling with complications. S*** happens. But s*** can also be repaired. Never lose hope.

Now I'd like to direct you to Shannon #2's fabulous blog, Green Monkey Tales. She writes with wit, verve, honesty and humor. And if you haven't seen it, you have to check it out. Before she headed into surgery this morning, Shannon posted some great tips and insight for anyone heading down Recon Road. I encourage you to stop by her blog and wish her well. It's hard enough going through this process once, let along twice.

The fact that I know two women named Shannon who have had to go through this? Well, that leads me to think that a "Recon Re-Do" is not all that uncommon.

Have you had to redo your reconstruction?