the power of the second opinion

Today, I had my second opinion. Everywhere I read and everyone I've talked to told me to do this, so I picked another surgeon out of the magic health insurance book and made an appointment. This doctor is great. Jeff and I knew from the beginning that he was a gift from God. He does a lot of breast work. Over 100 a year. He also works as a team with a plastic surgeon, which makes a tremendous difference in how my operation goes. They know each other's incision preferences, methods and thought processes in treatment. They also recommended an Oncologist in my local area for my chemo follow-up who use to work in their team until he moved to Blacksburg. The surgeon, Dr. Williams, is in Salem, which is about 35 minutes away and 10 minutes from where my sister, Lara, lives.

I didn't think he could have a much different opinion from my first consultation, but I was wrong. My first dr. recommended I wait to do my reconstruction for another year after my surgery. Dr. Williams strongly disagreed. He addressed each one of my specific concerns about infection and my tissue expander getting in the way of possible radiation. He showed us that the current research and literature actually supports that the recovery is better and the healing of the incision, the look of the reconstruction, as well as the emotional impact are all better when the reconstruction is done at the same time of the mastectomy.

Something else I also appreciated about Dr. Williams is his incredibly encouraging attitude. He said, "you caught this incredibly early, I have seen your films and even though I know its there, I still can't find it. You have a great prognosis." He gave us both the emotional freedom to actually get excited about the possibilites of reconstruction.

Here is the bad news. He said he could not operate in the next two weeks because he is booked solid and then he is going on vacation for 2 more weeks. I didn't think we could handle waiting this long emotionally or physically. I asked him if there was anyway he could squeeze me in. He said between his schedule, the plastic surgeon's schedule and the OR's schedule at the hospital he thought this was highly unlikely. He left us sayin he would have his nurse contact us with our options.

I was excited we had found the right surgeon, but sad that I didn't know how the timing was going to work. Jeff & I got in the car and I prayed that the Lord would give us peace in our decision and that he would open the surgery spot, like he had parted the seas. I really had total peace at that point.

This is how I know God's hand is in all this....One hour later we received a call from the surgeon's nurse. The made a spot for us in the OR, with both DRs. and I had an appointment at 2:30 to consult with the Plastic surgeon. TAKE THAT BREAST CANCER, IN YOUR FACE! My GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOU, I'VE GOT YOUR NAME AND I'M COMING AFTER YOU!!!