Page 239 - She's One Crazy Lady!

a thumbs up sign and continued to sleep. Knowing there was nothing more I could do that was my cue to leave and change back into my ‘civvies’.
Jen had asked me earlier if I would ring her husband for her when I knew that all had gone to plan. This I willingly did. It was humbling. I could sense the feeling of relief in his voice.
WOW again!
What an incredible experience! How incredibly fortunate I was to have witnessed this complex operation – an operation that I’d had done! I wanted to tell the world about it! Now I knew what breast reconstruction was really like and I hope I was later able to help a few more ladies by talking through the procedures. What impressed me most through all of the observing was how the whole medical team treated Jen with such respect – respect for her dignity and the fact that she was a person – Jen – a mum, a wife, a friend... she could not have been in better hands; words that I conveyed so many times whenever people asked me about my reconstruction.
I went back to the Infirmary three days later to see
Jen, having rung each day for an update. Each time it
was positive news so I couldn’t wait to see her again. She was up and about and slowly walking but told me to sit down – she wanted to know ‘everything’! Knowing that I was going to write up this experience we decided the best way to do this was for me to write her a letter – a very long letter as it turned out (like this chapter). We called it: “Dear Jen...”
Jen contributed to her story and Mr Varma very kindly answered a lot of questions too, to clarify certain points. In his responses Mr Varma said I was the first patient to observe him and, yes, he was slightly nervous but more concerned that it could bring back memories that may upset me. No, they didn’t at all. Watching Jen’s operation helped me – helped me to realise that, despite mine not working totally as planned they had the confidence and the skills to make right my situation. I was so appreciative that they had persevered on me. As Jen and I said, there were no words really to describe just how grateful we each felt.
In Jen’s story (apart from singing the Team’s praises and saying how pleased she was) she wrote:
“I was very happy Glennis was watching. If this helps others in the future I see it as something that had to be done, that’s why I consider a ‘buddy’ scheme to be such a good idea. Any lady considering a breast reconstruction could be teamed up with someone who has had the operation; someone who can share their fears and help them with any nerves they may have. We all know it’s not an operation to be taken
“...the whole medical team treated Jen with such respect – respect for her dignity and the fact that she was a person – Jen – a mum, a wife, a friend...
”
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