Bosoms. My sister Patty and I broke out in fits of laughter after one of us said that word. We shared a bed when we were little girls and were supposed to go to sleep after the lights went out.
It referred to our private parts; our undeveloped breasts modestly covered up at all times even though we only had flat nipples like little boys. We thought the word was naughty. My mom would hush us and again we would whisper, “Bosoms!” until tears ran down our cheeks and we couldn’t breathe.
There is something very antiquated about the word bosoms these days, but there is nothing antique about the feeling of having close friends or bosom buddies.
A few days before my surgery, a couple of my girlfriends threw a Boob Party Send Off for me. These were uncharted waters, but they responded to my sense of humor.
Karin, the hostess, went all out and bought everything to make cupcakes. She sent the project to another friend of mine whose daughter bakes. Ale said, “I’ve decorated a lot of cupcakes, but these are my first nipples.”
Ale, yours truly, and Annagiulia
Johanna created a boob matching game. Most of us recognized the women’s cleavage, but the man boobs proved to be quite difficult. “Geez guys. Hit the gym! Oh. No. Not you Daniel…”
Can you guess?
Judy had a canvas wrap made of my Boob Report picture. Yep. It is on my mantel above my fireplace in my living room… Where else would I put it?
These women are bosom buddies. I am so grateful I was able to laugh about this insanity before my surgery.
Bosom Buddies
A few days later, I discovered that I had over 40 bosom buddy bloggers.
A positive rush hit me the moment I woke up the morning of my double mastectomy,sentinel node surgery and reconstruction. I felt elated. It was as if I was going to a spa, or Paris, or to a party in my honor, not major surgery.. What was going on?
I was unaware that BrickHouseChick from Swimming to my 50’s sent emails to many of my blog followers. She asked them to write #SusieStrong posts to inform their followers about my surgery. Many asked them to pray for me or send out positive vibes to give me strength through my surgery and recovery.
It worked!
Some of these popular bloggers have thousands of followers. Between all of the posts and reblogs, Facebook updates, and Tweets, the message to pray for me went out across the world, exponentially!
I floated out to the car, smiled and joked with doctors and nurses. I didn’t know why, until I started seeing email alerts for #SusieStrong posts with pingbacks to my Boob Report. I knew exactly why I was so peppy, happy and energized. Prayers and positive energy reached me before my surgery.
A fabulous group called the MyWANA’s jumped in and joined the #SusieStrong party headed up by Kristen Lamb. Talk about the message going out across the world. It almost went viral!
This is a group every blogger should belong to. You can check out their site here and use #MyWANA on Twitter to introduce yourself! WANA means We Are Not Alone. It is a group for writers and bloggers. Believe me, once you meet this group, you will never be alone.
When I started to feel down the following week, I felt an energy boost which buoyed me back up again from the hole since many of you continued praying.
After the surgery, I read a few posts, but had to stop. Crying hurt as much as laughing. My sutures run four inches down from armpit to armpit under my skin and across each breast. There are three layers of them!
I asked the nurse how many stitches I have.
Can you guess?
She said there are probably close to 1000 of them. A 1000??? No wonder I am heavy-headed. All the blood is in my chest and it’s struggling to pump to my brain! I feel like someone wearing sand paper gloves keeps pinching my boobs, my fake-out boobs. “Stop that!” Or like I have two big conch shells glued to my breasts and the underside and edges are covered in rhinestones. Not bad considering the surgery I went through and I am only on Tylenol and Ibuprophen.
I will give you my update later. Back to all of you!
I believe a miracle took place.
The two biopsies put my Oncotype around 26% for cancer recurrence according to the Mayo Clinic. That put me in the “gray area” for chemotherapy to reduce my risk for recurrence. After the surgery, my percentile was halved at 13%! I will always believe it was because of you!
I will cherish the Facebook notifications, private and text messages, emails, phone calls, flowers, and cards. I plan to make a binder of them along with print-outs of all of the blog posts and comments. I will never be able to express my gratitude. I can only say once again, thank you so very much for everything.
Me and Karin
Danny was in heaven. Karin organized dinners for the first two weeks after my surgery. We have such amazing friends! For me, it was also a chance to catch up with my girlfriends. Since I had only been out twice since being diagnosed back in April, I looked forward to the doorbell ringing. I don’t know who was more hyperactive; me or Roxy! We both went through gourmet dinner withdrawal this week.
This is an amazing writing community. I have been humbled and honored by each and every one of you. It amazes me how everyone came together to help me fight the battle against the bitch, the beast, I mean, breast cancer.
If you ever have to face a challenge like this, and I pray that you don’t, I would highly recommend sharing your story with your blog family. That is what we are – your family. We are real people who can make a difference.
At first I wasn’t sure if I should blog about my diagnosis with breast cancer.
I shared the bad news with my immediate family. My kids were heading into final exams. I didn’t want them to stress out, so I kept it a secret.
I came up with the idea of The Boob Report right away. Weeks later, I sent an email to a few of my blogging buddies to inform them of my “situation,” and to see what they thought about The Report. They encouraged me to forge ahead along with the publication of my book. I can’t tell you how relieved I was!
I told the kids on Mother’s Day. Hey. It was the only day we could all get together.
On May 18th, I teed up my first Boob Report. I planned to post it and then send an email to a few friends and blast on Facebook and Twitter. I was so scared. I had trouble pulling the trigger. Then I got a call from Annagiulia. I explained what was going on and she encouraged me to press “publish.” The rest is history.
Everyone needs support while going through life’s challenges. It may be hard to put it out there, but you won’t regret it. Your blogging family will be there for you too!
The boob support I have received has been immeasurable! I would call it quadruple D. You are the underwire in my bra. The pad in my push-up. The adjustable straps lifting me up when I drooped.
Here is a list of my Bosom Buddy Bloggers who wrote #SusieStrong posts organized by BrickHouseChick. If you are not already following them, you should subscribe today. They are the best!
These Wild Riders are linked to the post they wrote.
Brick House Chick – Swimming to my 50’s
Lynn Kelley: Random Acts of Weirdness
Margaret Grant – Mag off Leash
Misteriopress – Kassandra Lamb
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Zannyro – A Window into the Woods
This does not include reblogs, but believe me, you are most appreciated!
If I missed anyone, let me know and I will add you to the list.
To everyone else who read or commented and sent positive vibes and prayed, thank you! I truly believe that my excellent prognosis is because of you!
I will update you soon. I am recovering waaaay too slowly for my impatient, hyperactive, Wild Riding soul…
Do you feel like you have real friends here in the blogosphere?
You already know my answer!
Related Posts:
The Boob Report I – Roadblocks and U-Turns
The Boob Report II – Laughter is the Best Medicine
The Boob Report IV – Coming Out of the Haze
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
Ha! – you have the BEST Bosom Buddy Support Group – loving the cupcakes – Good Luck on the Recovery Process!!! Happy Friday – Happy Weekend:)
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Thanks Renee!
i do have the best Boob Support Group and you are a part of the gang!
It took nearly a week to get to these comments. I am coming around. FINALLY!
You and the rest of the Wild Riders really came through for me. I really appreciate that!
Happy Wednesday!
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SUSIE STRONG!
I miss living in Denver even more than I used to. Why? Your local friends get to be there to deliver food, celebrate your strength with parties, pop in for visits. That doesn’t make cyber-friends less real. We just don’t get to eat Boob cupcakes.
That star of yours? It’s still shining. I’m still pinging.
I’m picking out a new one tonight for Marcia Richards. Those pings have to make it to New York.
Stay strong! Duh! As if you needed that…
You are #SUSIESTRONG
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I agree about cyber friends and this amazing community! It is the BEST!
I heard about Marcia! She slipped it out there after the surgery. I think I tried commenting twice on her blog and then spaced out. I will have to post something today! Thanks for the reminder.
Love those pinging stars Gloria! They have made me Stronger!
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God bless you Susie! Glad you are doing well. I was wondering how you are, be well’
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I am almost to the 4 week mark and am feeling stronger every day! Thanks for all the prayers John. They helped me through this “bump in the road.”
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Sending you lots of love, hon. I caught on to the #SusieStrong the morning of the 31st and added you to my wine blog post that day. Oh, and I also had a mammogram that day! Strange timing, no? But I’m all clear – no bad spots. You are an inspiration! Hugs!
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Thanks so much for the boob support Christine! I didn’t realize that so I added you to the list! Glad to hear you had your mammogram! That is ironic. 🙂
I have been pretty sporadic when checking on my blog for obvious reasons, but am coming back more each day!
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Susie, it is a privilege to know you. This is an incredible post. I am going through each blogger to follow. Thanks for finding me because you are a life changer. I am so happy you are fine. What a gift to the world. I always loved when you first came back online, two days after the surgery, I think, and said it was already fading in the rear view mirror. I always think of that when I’m driving and I glance in the mirror; I imagine you and how you charged through the experience and are leaving it behind you, retaining only the appreciation for all the love and support. Yes, a lot of people prayed and continue to pray for you, but you are the one who allows that energy to flow to and uplift you. You should feel proud of that because receiving all of that love was good for you but it also was good for us. We all went to a new level of feeling and understanding our connectedness. I was honored to be asked by Brickhouse to join in. You are an uplifter.
Between your heart and this, you are so strong and an amazing teacher. You have inspired and given courage to all of us through your openness, sharing and brilliance. And your energy has pulled together the best of the blogosphere. I’m amazed by all the comments and followers here.
With all my love and appreciation,
Nia
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Wow Nia! Your words gave me shivers! You are so sweet and I truly appreciate every sentence. This was one of the gifts of getting this dreaded disease. Seeing this support was mind-blowing. I will always be grateful for each kind comment, prayer and positive thought. They all have meant so much. Thank you so much for your support!
It still seems surreal, but my bionic boobs keep on reminding me it was very real! (They are ridiculous since they are as hard as rock and will be until the exchange with the silicone implant in the fall. I dug all the clean clothes out of the washer today and smacked my boob. Boy, did that hurt!)
I am sorry it took me so long to comment. I somehow started from the bottom and then from the top. I had to work my way to the middle!
I am still blaming the general anesthetic. I am sure I get a few more days leeway!
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Susie, as I said in my letter to you – there will be tears … but there has to be laughter and good sense of humor the next minute. And you my dear are the proof of the pudding – what a fantastic post and of course you should write about your situation and what you’re going through. I didn’t have a blog at the time, but FB and with my friends there – became my cheerleaders and because of them and my junior doctor I pulled through the rough times. But I was phsycially very lonely on my journey – only me on my own, but that made me strong.
So take, use and abuse all the support you get through your real world and your world here.
I wouldn’t mind one of those cakes. *smile
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Thank you so much Viveka!
I can’t imagine going through this without someone physically by my side. You must be FIERCE!!!
It does make you stronger and it is important to allow others to help.
The Cupcake is in cybermail! Whoooooosh!
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I’ll say it again, Susie: You’re my hero.
A hero bleeds but forges on.
A hero faces the music, regardless of the tone, and dances anyway.
A hero is not the sum of her parts, but the sum of the depth of her heart.
Be well, Susie.
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That’s so beautiful Hook! I am glad for your wife’s prognosis! I had worried about you two…
I would love to print all of these comments out and compile them.
Thank you for being so supportive! (((hugs)))
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Susie, so glad to see that you are up to posting, and what a wonderful post it is. If I ever doubted the power of prayer and positive energy, I don’t anymore!
I’ve always felt that the WANA’s were a very supportive group but I was amazed at how we all came together to help you be #SusieStrong. You know the saying…well, I won’t go there, but it’s true that adversity does often make us stronger. I can see that is true in you and your family and friends, and in our WANA group.
I hope you do put these posts together into some kind of memoir because your story and your wonderful attitude would be an inspiration for others facing this. {{{Hugs}}} Keep on healing!!
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Thanks so much Kassandra! The WANAs are the best!
Brickhousechick organized Susie Strong Day. I just informed her about the WANAs. She is a new blogger and participates in my Use Me and Abuse Me days. The WANAs, being part of an amazing community, jumped on board and blasted it our there as well.
I am so thankful for all the prayers since my outcome has been exceptional. The docs told me 8 weeks to full recovery, but my PT believes 6 will do it! Yeah for bike riding! We will be in Europe by then…
Thank you so much for your support too! You are simply Mahvelous!!
(Sorry it took me so long to work my way to the middle of the comments 🙂 )
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We’re all out here cheering for you only a keystroke away.
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I can feel it! Thanks so much for checking in and for the blogger boobie support!
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Those boob cupcakes are awesome. I think it’s lovely that you did that with your friends. What a trooper! Love the blog title too, bosom is a really fun word it reminds me of Nora Batty from Last of the Summer Wine. Please tell me you’ve seen that. Take care!
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I will have to look up that movie!
Your poem was so touching. I absolutely loved it. You should enter it somewhere!
The party was a blast and really took my mind off the impending surgery. The boobie cupcakes were divine!
Thank you so much Catherine!
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Beautiful post from a beautiful lady! I’m so glad you had a wealth of supportive friends both at home and in the blogosphere. We love you bunches!
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Thanks so much for the blog post Jess! I love all of you right back! The Wild Riding community helped me in so many ways and you are a part of the posse… 🙂
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I’m so glad you came through the surgery okay. Sending lots of goofy and upbeat thoughts your way.
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I was wondering where all those “goofy and upbeat thoughts” were coming from!
Thank you so much Gwynnem! I really appreciate all your support and positive vibes!
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My online friends are some of THE BEST people I’ve ever known. I adore my online community, and that includes you, wild woman. 🙂
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I do too! This community really stepped up and made a difference and you are included in the Wild Riding gang! Thanks so much Jenny!
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You’re always welcome, Susie! Keep riding toward wildly fabulous health. 🙂
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If I ever had to be in a foxhole, I’d want to be with someone as positive, able and upbeat as you, Susie. But, I think you’ve suffered enough, so let’s hope if we ever do meet it will be someplace above ground that serves wine and lifting a glass won’t make you wince. I am glad that your recovery is continuing to go as well as possible and that your friends in both the real world and on the blogosphere are so supportive. Here’s another dose of soot flecked good vibes from Manhattan!
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Thanks for the soot flecked vibes! I used every one of them!
I was amazed at the outpouring of boob support. It really did help me through this nightmare. I think I found something to laugh about every single day! Oh, the boob and nipple material…
I am slowly catching up! I started at the top of the comments and the bottom and am making my way towards the middle!
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I was so pleased to see a notice in my email that you had a post out… Linda and I have poured over it and you sound as strong as … I want to say Ox… but not sure how that would sound.. so instead I’ll say you sound as strong as my wife… a beater of the bitch, beast or how did you put it.. boob cancer… we continue to support you with pray from South Africa… so glad to see you seem up and about… and Linda says from one survivor to another… you keep on kicking it ass…
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I kicked its sorry ass out of my body, I am happy to say! Ox is good! I am glad to hear your wife is a survivor. That is the best thing about getting breast cancer. Most don’t die of the nasty disease.
Thanks so much for all the boob support! I appreciate the prayers from South Africa more than you will ever know!
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Bosom, bosom, bosom. I love that word. Made me giggle as a kid, too. My husband’s grandmother used to say refer to herself as having an “aggressive” bosom. (It was that.)
So glad to hear you’re doing so well. Not surprised, though. You DO have a lot of love and support because you are an amazing person! This post is a classic – clearly there’s a lot of oxygen going to your brain.
Welcome back!
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Thanks so much Mary! That is so sweet of you. Finally the oxygen is making it’s way to my head.. 🙂
The word bosoms still cracks me up! Aggressive bosom? Wow!
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Thanks for your posts. Hope you are doing well! It’s a process!;)
There are so many ways to share our lives and it takes a very special person like yourself to be the big cheer leader. Blessings. And love …xxoo
You’ve helped me to be encouraged and be out here and blogging. I’m writing and loving it. I’m out on the wings of a big jet seeing the world and giving of myself. See ya later.
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Cool! I hope you have a wonderful adventure once you land.
Thanks so much! I am glad I have kept you going. I can’t imagine NOT writing unless I am in a drug-induced state like I was up until recently. I still don’t know how I wrote those last two posts. They took days! Hahaha!
Blessing and love to you too!
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You have such a wonderful support system of friends, family, and bloggers. The power of such love and caring is a big part of recovery. The doctors report was such good news too. So glad to hear that your are beating this.
Also, some of those guys boob shots should have had them in a “man bra”!
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This community is the BEST!
Danny made a funny joke about the man bra! Hahaha! I have to save it for a blog. Some are just plain disgusting!
Thanks for your support and tweet outs! It really helped me through this crazy time. It feels good to be cancer-free and my strength is really coming back. Yeah!
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Great to see you recovering nicely. My dad had lung cancer and is now clean so I know how it goes. I am also running in a Warrior Dash on Aug 3rd for charity – St Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital. I have been training hard for it to be in shape so I survive! Here’s the link to my blog post in case you want to read about it –
http://blog.theregularguynyc.com/?p=3411
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That is a very cool charity event! I will check it out.
I am glad to hear about your Dad’s health!
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Keep on keeping on my friend! It looks like a Wild party! I hope you are feeling beter and better.PS I like a good firm muffin!
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My muffins are hard as rock! Hahaha! They will “soften up” after the expander/silicone exchange coming up in September… 🙂
It was a Wild Party!
Thanks so much! I hope all is well with you!
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I’ve always heard “To have a friend, be a friend.” You’re such a wonderful friend, this is why you have so many. And we all love you.
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Oh David that is such a kind compliment. Thank you so much! I am lucky to have friend like you too!
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Great news Susie! I think you may have a point about all that positive energy aimed at you and for you from all over the world.
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I felt it Jim! It is very real! Thank you so much for all your support and reblogs! Hope to see you in July!
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Reblogged this on .
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Amazing post. Your love of life spills from every word. It’s not a very British expression, but you rock Susie 🙂
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Thanks so much PF. So do you! I wasn’t about to have any part of my life stolen from me, that’s for sure!
Where are you in England?
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Near Oxford in a small village.
Hope you are recovering as fast as it sounds as though you are.
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That’s near the Cotswolds right?’
Thanks! I am!
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Yes we’re an hour or so away. I’d prefer a few more hills but this is as far as the doctor can get from London without panic setting in 😉
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It looks like a beautiful area!
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You get what you give Susie, which says a lot about you my friend. I think of you ever single day and can’t wait until you’re well enough to share more with all of us.
I am elated, but not surprised, that you are surrounded by such wonderful souls….the boob cupcakes are seriously the bomb.
Be well : )
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They were the bomb! Hilarious!
I think everyone has built a community here in addition to the friends in real life. I had no idea how important it could be in my recovery! The comments from all these Boob Reports have been so healing!
Thanks again Lisa!
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Well I can’t figure out any of the man or woman boobs in those pictures, haha. I’m always and never amazed at the power of prayer and love. I’m so glad you are recovering, slowly but surely. Recovering is good. And I’m so glad you hit publish. That is as brave a thing as facing this crisis with humor and spunk. But it means something to us that you shared it, and it could mean something huge to someone who reads this and says to herself, “maybe I should go in for that mammogram this year after all.”
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Thanks so much Michelle! I know that the prayers and energy helped me and are continuing to aid in my recovery. I count myself very lucky to have such an amazing community!
I guess I was more afraid of the association of breast cancer and what that would mean to my brand, but looking back, it was the best decision I could have made! I don’t think my prognosis would be as good as it is without all of you.
I am glad that my message of hope is out there!
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