Welcome to my blog, Sea to Sea Stampin! I am very excited to be participating in this blog hop for the second year in a row because this issue is near and dear to my heart.
At the age of 20 my gynecologist found a lump in my right breast during my annual exam. It was a horrible experience because the surgeon was uncaring and got upset with me when I cried during the needle biopsy and therefore blamed me when the results were inconclusive. So, he recommended I have the lump removed surgically. It was the size of a golf ball. When I asked whether the surgery would interfere with my ability to breastfeed later he said it would be fine...
Fast forward to age 25. I found another one in the same breast. This time I found a better surgeon who took care to not leave a gigantic scar running down the side of my breast, but instead went in around the nipple. This time it was bigger, the size of an orange.
And then again. At age 27. But just like the second time, I was proud that I found it. I also found a great surgeon who went in through the same scar as surgery #2 and this time the lump was the size of a large apple. And this time the surgeon was honest and said that all of the surgeries would most likely interfere with my ability to breastfeed in the future.
Lucky for me all three were benign and I have had over 11 years without a lump! I make sure to get my annual exams and mammograms every 3 years as recommended for someone my age. Breastfeeding was darn near impossible in that breast so the left one took over and got us to 8 months with some supplementing for Marianne.
All of this to say-- thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about this in ways that will raise awareness and hopefully make the process easier for young women affected by these issues now. So... on to my project!
I knew I wanted to feature the very pretty Year of Cheer Designer Series Paper (Item #144640) from Stampin' Up! and keep the rest of the card pretty simple... Here is a glimpse of the pretty champagne tones in that paper... I love that you get 3 full sheets of four gorgeous designs so there is enough that you don't feel the need to hoard it. Not that I do that... Wink. Wink.
At the age of 20 my gynecologist found a lump in my right breast during my annual exam. It was a horrible experience because the surgeon was uncaring and got upset with me when I cried during the needle biopsy and therefore blamed me when the results were inconclusive. So, he recommended I have the lump removed surgically. It was the size of a golf ball. When I asked whether the surgery would interfere with my ability to breastfeed later he said it would be fine...
Fast forward to age 25. I found another one in the same breast. This time I found a better surgeon who took care to not leave a gigantic scar running down the side of my breast, but instead went in around the nipple. This time it was bigger, the size of an orange.
And then again. At age 27. But just like the second time, I was proud that I found it. I also found a great surgeon who went in through the same scar as surgery #2 and this time the lump was the size of a large apple. And this time the surgeon was honest and said that all of the surgeries would most likely interfere with my ability to breastfeed in the future.
Lucky for me all three were benign and I have had over 11 years without a lump! I make sure to get my annual exams and mammograms every 3 years as recommended for someone my age. Breastfeeding was darn near impossible in that breast so the left one took over and got us to 8 months with some supplementing for Marianne.
All of this to say-- thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about this in ways that will raise awareness and hopefully make the process easier for young women affected by these issues now. So... on to my project!
I knew I wanted to feature the very pretty Year of Cheer Designer Series Paper (Item #144640) from Stampin' Up! and keep the rest of the card pretty simple... Here is a glimpse of the pretty champagne tones in that paper... I love that you get 3 full sheets of four gorgeous designs so there is enough that you don't feel the need to hoard it. Not that I do that... Wink. Wink.
I am sure you would like to see the whole card, right? Powder Pink, one of Stampin' Up!'s 2017-2019 In-Colors is the only color on this card-- I love working in monochromatic color schemes!
Who wouldn't love to receive this card if they are fighting the fight of their lives?
I hope you enjoyed this card and I thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope you love hopping along to see more beautiful pink projects from my demonstrator friends! I am number 15 on this list and it is quite an all-star line-up!!
Happy crafting,
​Melissa
I hope you enjoyed this card and I thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope you love hopping along to see more beautiful pink projects from my demonstrator friends! I am number 15 on this list and it is quite an all-star line-up!!
Happy crafting,
​Melissa
