Vigilance and advocacy! **UPDATED AGAIN**

I wanted to add one more thing...I know I am going a little blog crazy today, but this is SO important!

Today, my father's wife, is having a single mastectomy. Thankfully, the breast cancer was caught early and this should be a good sign. She was vigilant about her care since her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer about 2 years ago.

There is a chance she could come home today after the surgery but most likely tomorrow. After that she will be waiting for test results to see what the plan of attack is. Hopefully nothing more will need to be done and she can just take a few weeks to recoup!

For the past two years I have organized a team to hike Mount Major with a group called Expedition Inspiration to raise money for breast cancer research. In two years my group has raised over $2000! While this is amazing, and we all were so proud to have done it, I never thought it would hit this close to home.

Please keep her in your prayers over the next few days, send waves of healing green light, donate a few dollars to breast cancer research and be vigilant about YOUR care! You are your best advocate and had she not pushed for better care, it would not have been found as early as it was! While doctors may have best of intentions, you know your body better than anyone. You are the only person who can advocate for your care so be the best advocate you can!

**Updated 1/9/08**

Dad called to let me know that Sue was going in for surgery around 2:30. It was later than planned and expected to last about 2 hours. He called again around 4:30 or so to let me know that she had come out of surgery and was doing well. Since everything got started later they did not expect her to come home this evening.

Thanks for all your prayers!!

**Second Update 1/10/08**

I spoke with Dad this morning and Sue was still at the hospital. They were working on discharge papers since she had accomplished all her "goals".

Sue called me this evening to let me know that she was home. She sounded in, amazingly, good spirits. I'm not sure if it was just her and her amazing personality or if the vicatin really is that good :) She is looking forward to seeing the boys and we hope to bring them down this weekend. Her sisters and father will also be up from Florida next weekend and I think that will be really good for her.

I haven't spoken much about Sue here, but she really is an amazing woman. She has traveled all over the world (including Antarctica and Alaska), she was in the Air National Guard until last year when she retired, the year before she was overseas in Iraq. She is great with the kids and they absolutely love their "Nana Sue". And most importantly, she makes my father incredibly happy. She has accepted his family - crazy as we are - with open arms and has made every effort to ensure that we have been included in everything from her tour in Iraq to their beautiful wedding and everything in between.

Thank you, again, for all your thoughts and prayers! Keep praying! We expect test results on Tuesday that will determine the next course of action.