My sister had breast cancer. It was a shock to all of us since this was a first for the women in the family. The one thing that I observed as my sister dealt with this aggressive form of breast cancer was her ability to laugh and have a positive attitude. The title of this post is an actual quote from my sister, “My Ta-Tas Fell on 9/11.” Since this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month I wanted to share her story.
My sister decided to have both breasts removed since one was “positive” and the other was “busy”, (hyperplasia). I stayed with her after her surgery and saw what she had to deal with. What was upsetting to me was the fact that she decided to stop having mammograms which led to her diagnosis. Had she continued to have her screenings, the calcification stage would have been detected before breast cancer developed. However, she was a trouper and I am convinced that her attitude made the difference. I remember she was listening to the song, “I Will Survive” as they wheeled her into the operating room when she had her double mastectomy.
It was quite a process to be reconstructed. She called it her, “watch me grow” procedure, since saline was injected into each breast to stretch the tissue in preparation for her surgery.
Her reconstruction surgery was scheduled on 9/11; the day that changed our world forever. My sister told me that as they were putting her to sleep before surgery she heard the doctor and nurses mumbling about our country being under attack. In her twilight sleep, her last thought was, “Great. No one will be alive to see my new GIRLS.” In her defense, she had no idea what was going on and was in a bit of a “drunken” state.
My sister woke up to a new world and body. A few weeks following her reconstruction surgery, my sister called and said, “Guess what? My ta-tas fell on 9/11. Yes, my twin towers went down.” Months later she was reconstructed again and this time the procedure went well, no complications.
I wrote my book, “What Ta-Tas Teach Us” (Free Kindle Download on Amazon) in memory of my sister, Carol Jenkins Hardman. Yes, she did survive breast cancer but her life was cut short with an unknown heart-related issue. Ladies, take care of yourselves and do not neglect your health.
This is a sweet book to gently remind those special women in our lives to have mammograms. It is a free download on Kindle or you can request a free PDF copy of “What Ta-Tas Teach Us” if you email me: jane@janeherlong.com
Also for a limited time only for 99¢ you can download my other book, “Bury Me with My Pearls.”
Pass it on!
