Miracles in Unexpected Places 1

This is not a pity party, instead enjoy the humor in my experience, thank you!

Just a random girl establishing care in Columbus, Ohio with the goal of optimizing my health after a rigorous 3-year Doctoral program in anesthesiology at the University of Miami, Florida.

My initial visit to my Obstetrics and gynecologist ends with a a recommendation to do a mammogram and ultrasound of the right breast because she felt the right breast to be more dense than the left breast.

Now that was not the reason , I went there in the first place, I just wanted to do the good old Pap smear run some labs and be done, but home girl decided to go the extra mile.

I’m glad she did because the results revealed a 0. 8 mm non palpable fibroepithelial lesion located in the right outer upper quadrant of my right breast.

Keep in mind that I have never felt any lump or pain ; pretty much asymptomatic. However, I do remember having a rash at the crease of my breast in the first year of my graduate school of which the itching subsided by the time of graduation. I didn’t think that it was any thing serious.

I assumed that it was it was my body adjusting to the Miami heat and weather. Full transparency, full time graduate school and not working at that time, the last thing I wanted to do was to spend more money.

Fast forward, here I am with appointments for surgical oncology pathology core biopsy, breast markers and a radioactive Isotope I-125 Onco Seed placement. The goal of the marker and seed is to allow the surgeon locate the lesion during excision since the lesion is non palpable and very small.

Casually, going about my daily life with a radioactive agent in my breast tissue. Feeling like an alien in Star Wars haha!

Listen, you have to find humor in every curve that life throws at you and for me, this is one of them .

Continued with visits to the surgical oncology department at the James Cancer Center. Now, one might ask the question, why is this such a big deal?

Well, a random finding of any foreign body in the breast tissue of a female requiring pathology tests and surgical oncology consult and surgery to follow. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Exactly! It is a cause for concern !

A Fibroepithelial lesion could either be a fibroadenoma which is benign or a phyllodes which is cancerous. Based on the core biopsy we don’t know the exact characteristics of the lesion yet.

Moving on, according to literature and evidence based practice, the recommendation is a surgical excision of the fibroepithelial lesion for further pathology studies.

Google became my best friend lol, researching and reading about the best anesthetic techniques and surgical complications haha! It happens to the best of us especially if it is the first time under general anesthesia.

On my journey to a successful surgery and speedy recovery, I exercised regularly and tried to eat healthy in anticipation for the surgical trauma that my body will experience. The literature also supports that too.

I actually went to the gym on the day of my surgery for a quick run on the treadmill, haha!

At 0615am, I was checked in for my preops. 2mg of Versed later, and all I remember was the instructions to breath in oxygen through a green mask.

Let it be known that I’m such a cheap date! lol!

The next time, I found myself in the recovery room responding to the basic orientation questions.It felt like I just woke up from a nap. So thirsty and hungry too!

The super powers of Anesthetic Anterograde Amnesia are real!!

My bartender aka anesthesiologist, understood the assignment. I didn’t even require dilaudid in postop because my PEC block was doing its job so well too!

Thank God for I-gels aka Supraglottic airways because I was so worried about the damn ETT aka Endotracheal tube.

The irony, because this is part of what do for a living, lol!!

I didn’t know when I broke down in tears during the phone call.
The relief of hearing that the tumor removed is a fibroadenoma which is benign and non cancerous.
That I don’t need to schedule for a chemotherapy or radiation treatment or a mastectomy.
That all is well in the end!!!

Oh ye lovely twin towers of mine!! Listen attentively!!! You are here to stay and finish the Lord’s given assignments in my life, Selah!! Haha!

It is a humbling experience becoming the patient on the other side of the drape and entrusting your life in the hands of someone else.

Best believe that the next time I’m pushing that Versed and giving anesthesia, I will be doing my job with a zillion doses of empathy, compassion, dedication, kindness and all the goodness of my heart to make my patients feel safe and well advocated for!

BTW, I’m keeping my pink bag as one of my many reminders of the faithfulness of God in my life.

IV needles are very painful and I will never get use to the pain, lol!

Versed aka Midazolam, you are a wonder to my soul! Where have you been all my life?!?!

PEC blocks are truly amazing for post op pain management. I am a true believer!

I-gel aka Supraglottic airway, you are amazing because, status post my surgery, my oropharyngeal area doesn’t feel traumatized. Love you gel ! lol!

Shout out to Sabina for the ride home . It feels like I have known you for a long time!

You are a true friend and sister from another mother.

The James Cancer Outpatient Center owes me nothing! Thank you for the VIP treatment!

To my MVP, you know who you are! Thank you for being the daily dose of antidepressant that I didn’t know that I needed in my life. I love you so much with my heart, body and soul.

“Thank you for reading and allowing me to share with you, one of my many Miracles in Unexpected Places! ” Selah!!

Please Stay tuned!

1st Corinthians 2: 9: Eyes have not seen , nor ears heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him” Amen!