Update - My wife's mastectomy

Almost a month after my wife had open heart surgery, her doctors said she was fit enough for her mastectomy. She had it two days ago and went through it with flying colors. Since getting rid of her breasts, she has sped up her recovery. We won't know until next week if the operation got all of the cancer, but she has made lots of progress the past few days. She still has the tracheotomy, but the therapists outfitted her with a valve that lets her speak with her own voice. Last Tuesday, I got a phone call from her while I was at work. It was the first time in a month that I had heard her voice. It almost brought me to tears.

We both come from large Irish Catholic families. Her 89-year-old mother lives three hours away near Tampa, and I wanted her there for the surgery. My wife's family lives in various cities throughout the US, and one lives in Singapore. Most of my family lives in Central Florida. Previously, they had taken turns flying down to Tampa and driving her over to Orlando to visit her. This time, they weren't available, so my sister brought her here to stay with me while my brother brought her home today. She stayed with my son and me while we took her to the hospital. I can't thank my family enough for stepping up in this.

My wife had very nice breasts, but they were killing her. I don't miss them so much. She may get them reconstructed later, but first she has to recover. She has had enough surgeries for now. Besides, I was never much of a breast man. I haven't had much chance to play with them, which is why I am part of this community. But if they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, she must be pretty strong right now. I am not sure how much this has changed her, but I have changed. We will have to see how this has affected our relationship after she recovers. We'll see.