A Birthday Celebration!

It's hard to believe looking at this picture this is a woman who just underwent a five hour surgery three days earlier! Simply amazing how fast she has recovered. Last night we all met in her hospital room for a pizza dinner to celebrate the anniversary of my 29th birthday, as my mother used to say. Well the best present I received that day is word Katie would be able to go home Monday cancer free! She is now comfortably resting at home (Dana Point).

I'd like to thank everyone for their emails, blog posts, calls and most importantly prayers. I know Katie will be reaching out to you soon too. The surgery team did an outstanding job. The photo to the left is the lead plastic surgeon Dr. Koybayashi in the middle paying a visit and his residents in training that assisted (nurse Monica on far left!) When even the doctors are high five'g each other you know it was a success!

Katie will pretty much be immobile for the next month while everything gets reconnected. It didn't stop her from watering her plants in the backyard today and brushing Miss Kitty. I guess its the small things that make you feel at home. Like falling asleep watching her favorite soap opera All My Children. Go figure!

As we were leaving the hospital a young boy in the elevator was attached to some type of portable device which reminded us both that cancer knows no boundaries. It does not discriminate. Yesterday, for my birthday, I road my bicycle from Angel Stadium (next to UCI hospital) to Del Mar with good friends Bennett Dorrance and Rick Kuhle. Rick "earned" a Livestrong bracelet for completing his first century (100 miles). Just like Sara and Terry Lee in this photo wearing the Livestrong bracelet in support, it's a constant reminder of what Katie and other cancer patients have gone through. Go Lance! Go Katie! Go little boy in the elevator! - Mike