Happy Thanksgiving everyone. For me, this year is filled with many reasons to be thankful, and they are all people. So here it goes–in 2012, I’m thankful for:

• my parents, who–despite originally not supporting the idea of a prophylactic mastectomy–have been there to take care of me through everything;
• my boyfriend Bryce, who has shown maturity far beyond that of many other 23-year-olds when dealing with this at-times very bizarre situation;
• my doggy Madeline, for always giving me kisses when I need them;
• the friends who are close in distance, for visiting me in the hospital and at home and for finding ways to cheer me up and keep me smiling;
• the friends and family who are far away, for showing me their love and support even if we are separated by a highway, a country, or an ocean;
• my coworkers, who have always made me feel like my decision was the right one and who constantly remind me to prioritize my healing;
• my doctors and their nurses and assistants (I’m looking at you, Jeani and Maria), who take my frantic calls, texts, and emails no matter what and always make me feel like I’m in good hands;
• and my new online community of friends, many of whom are also going through the process of recovering from a mastectomy, for keeping me sane and for literally reminding me that I’m not alone.

I’m also thankful for science, extra-strength Tylenol, and chocolate.

Now, an update on my implants: Monday’s surgery was a success, and I am now the proud owner of two 800 cc style 45 high profile silicone implants. They are 14.2 cm in width with a 6.7 cm projection. Now, what does that really mean?

At the moment, I have no idea. My body is still adjusting from surgery, and to be honest with you, my breasts look very uneven. The right one is larger and falls lower, while the left one is small and tight and sits very high on my chest.

I had a freakout when I realized this yesterday, but Dr. Festekjian assured me via email and a phone call that he expected this to happen and that I need to give it time. He said that during his surgery, he did a lot of work on my left side to remove scar tissue from my earlier infection, and that the tissue was still swollen from that. He expects the implant to fall to the level of the right side over the course of a few weeks (to maybe a few months).

I’ll try to post pictures of my implants this weekend. Right now, I’ve got to get ready to see the new Lincoln movie with my favorite Abe Lincoln lookalike, Bryce. Happy Thanksgiving!

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