Pt 7: Breaking News: I Have A Surgery Date

Between my diagnosis on April 30th and May 8th—when I would finally have an MRI, axillary ultrasound, and meet my surgical oncologist for the first time—it felt like I was caught in a whirlwind. Yet, somehow, May 8th seemed impossibly far away.

Thankfully, I was helping to organize and co-host the first annual Kinslow Tubb4A Run (Walk or Roll) 4 Hope on May 3rd which gave me a purpose beyond my diagnosis. That same day, we also celebrated Caden’s 12th birthday, surrounded by family and friends. Having something else to focus on, even briefly, gave me a reprieve from the constant flood of ‘what ifs’ that threatened to take over my thoughts.  🎉Special shout out to those who donated and/or joined us in person or virtually for the event.  We raised over $10,000 with your help and support! Thank you! 🎉

By the time May 8th approached, I was eager—maybe even desperate—to meet with my oncologist, Dr. Yulia Olimpiadi at Piper Breast Cancer Center in Coon Rapids. I had a million questions scribbled in my You Got This notebook, ready to be answered, and I wanted to start preparing for surgery. At that point, we didn’t have a date yet, but I had been told it would be scheduled once we understood the diagnosis fully.

Then, on May 12th, I had an AH-HA moment. Why couldn’t we schedule surgery before meeting with the surgeon? I already knew I wouldn’t be going with a lumpectomy—my decision was between a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy, and I knew I wanted reconstruction. I quickly called my Nurse Navigator, Michelle on my way to complete my genetic testing blood work, to ask if we could lock in a date sooner. Michelle saw no reason to wait and swiftly coordinated with both the oncology and plastic surgery teams to find the next available slot.

On May 13th, I had my surgery date: June 9th. But the very next day, the phone rang again. They had moved my surgery up by a week—to June 2nd.

They say that once you have a plan in place, the weight on your shoulders feels lighter. I had read this over and over again, but I didn’t fully believe it—until I lived it myself.

When my surgery date was set, everything shifted. I still didn’t know exactly what the procedure would entail, and there were countless questions left to answer, but simply knowing when it would happen gave me something solid to hold onto. It was as if the uncertainty had loosened its grip, just enough for me to take a deeper, easier breath and stop the tears from randomly flowing. 

This journey is unpredictable, but having a concrete step ahead makes all the difference. If you’re in a season of waiting, I promise—getting to that next milestone, no matter how small, brings clarity and relief in ways you wouldn’t expect.