I’m still standing….yeah, yeah, yeah…

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.1″ background_color=”#f5f3f2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”23px||26px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.3em”]

Yup….I’m still here…..still standing.

It’s been a bit of a rough ride.  Many of you know, but for those that don’t….here is the rest of my story.

I lost my brother to a motorcycle accident on March 10th.  It was a punch to the gut. My world was turned upside down in an instant and I will never…my family will never be the same again.   Kevin will forever and always be in my heart.  My family pulled together, we leaned on each other, and we got through it.  I decided to go ahead with my surgery.

I came through my 9 hour double mastectomy/tram reconstruction surgery well.  I was dismissed from the hospital after only 3 days.  On April 4th I had a routine follow up visit with my breast surgeon and all appeared to be well.  As we left her office, I begain to feel intense pain and swelling in my left breast.  Bill immediately turned the car around and we headed back to the Doctor’s office.  Unfortunately, I got out of the car and somehow managed to move away from Bill.  I passed out…everything went black.  When I awoke, I awoke in a puddle of my own blood and spitting out broken teeth fragments.  NOT GOOD.

The ambulance came and I was transported to the closest hospital.  I had emergency surgery to fix the bleed in my left breast.  It went well, I spent the night under observation and was released the next day.

Here I am….still standing…still healing.  I still have 3 drains….yup…when you have a mestectomy with a tram reconstruction you wake up with 4 drains.  I had one removed last week and I’m hoping the other 3 will come out this Monday (April 15) .  Dispite my fall, I feel pretty darn good.  I still have some pain and I tire easily, but things are heading in the right direction.  I think I have finally found a dentist who can take care of my missing teeth too.  Good news…I checked with my insurance and because the  teeth were broken during a fall, my medical will apply for the cost of replacement teeth. That is huge because my dental insurance tops out around $2000.  I don’t think that would cover even one tooth.

Bill is also doing well.  He started his radiation treatments for his prostate cancer  last week.  He will have 8 weeks of treatment, Monday thru Friday.  His Doctor warned him that he will start to feel tired as the treatments progress.  I’m hoping I’ll be gaining strength so I can do more for myself and he can rest.

At this point, I’m just trying to get our lives back to some sense of ‘normal’.  To that end, I do think I will be painting or working with my pencils again soon.  I know I promised some details on ‘Beef the cat’ so here is a photo….

 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”21px|||||” column_structure=”3_5,2_5″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://goodestudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BeefWIP1.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_all=”7px” border_color_all=”#8a8a80″ box_shadow_style=”preset2″ title_text=”BeefWIP1″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.3em”]

 I’m just looking to define all the shapes of shadow and light that I see.  I’m also looking at the direction and length of each clump of fur.  Once I have that established, I’ll go back and start blending between the areas so the transitions become less harsh.

Definitely a work in progress, but I am making progress and I’m anxious to get back into it and finish.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.3em”]

On the mend and on the move with life…..because life goes on and I have lots more to do.  My brother Kevin truely loved life and as I look back through old photos and listen to the remeberances, it is clear he led a full and happy life.  He embraced every minute and gave to us so much love and laughter.  Day by day, I’ll move forward and I’ll share that love and laughter with those around me.  As my brother said so often, “Who’s with me!”

Wouldn’t the world be a much happier place if we all shared a little love and laughter with one another.

Forever and always in my heart, Kevin…forever and always sharing your love and laughter

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]