The plan is in place!

Hi All,

I just thought that I would send you guys a quick update on my doctors and what we have planned. I met with Dr. John Butler (picture on the left) last week, along with Mike. Dr. Butler is the head of the Breast Cancer hospital at UCI and is wonderful. You can check out a video of him here. He went to Sloan, and is conservative. He is ranked as one of the best doctors in America! I liked him a lot and we got an appointment quickly with him due to a good friend of Mike's. The diagnosis was the same as as Dr. Silverstein's at Hoag. You can click here to learn more about Dr. Butler and his philosophy. Make sure you click on Dr. John Butler's name.

Dr. Butler, just like Dr. Silverstein, recommended the plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Kobayashi. who's picture is to the right. Julie Boyle, the nurse coordinator at UCI, then made the calls and Dr. Mark saw me on Thursday night at 7pm ! Dr. Kobayashi is an amazing surgeon and he will do the reconstruction which is a little bit involved as he will take some skin/muscle/tissue from my back and put it in my breast. This is called a TRAM flap. May take a few more days in the hospital, but UCI has a brand new hospital with suites.

It has all really fallen quickly into place. The docs are the best, and Julie Boyle the coordinator, has been wonderful. They have worked together for years and have a great team. Mike's contact has put me into a VIP status - really, so they all just really work to make this easy and quick. Looks like we are shooting for surgery in mid-July, so hoping to have it confirmed soon.

Mike will do the blog, but I had a couple questions from all of you and wanted you to know that we are getting things all set. We have the best and I really feel so confident. I have a small amount of fear, but who wouldn't? It is MINOR to the great way I feel about life ahead.

Bright note??? Megan and I confirmed the bridal dress on Thursday - Shelley and I found it earlier in the week and Megan loved it too. YEAH. (the photo is just one of the many dresses I tried on) I also looked at invites and flowers ideas so the wedding is starting to take shape.

Love you all. Thanks for the emails, calls etc. Your comments below also get sent to me immediately too! It's great to know I have such a strong support group.

xoxoxokd - Katie