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How One Woman Discovered the Positive Outcomes of Reconstruction Surgery and Cancer

November 30, 2011 by

Today’s In Her Words post comes to us from a past patient of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, Jakki Grimball. Jakki is a breast cancer survivor who lived in Columbia, SC and traveled to Charleston to receive her DIEP reconstructive surgery. Today, her and her husband live in Charleston where her husband is the director of The Neighborhood House, an organization providing services for people in need, including food pantry, soup kitchen, emergency assistance, sewing classes, resume writing, and more.

See below for our interview with Jakki:

What type of reconstruction surgery did you have and how do you feel about the results?

I had the DIEP flap procedure done October 2007 by Dr. Craigie. The outcome far outweighs the surgery and recovery time. I am very pleased with the results and having a tummy tuck as an added benefit!

Would you make the same decision again if you could go back?

I would definitely make the same decision. I had a friend who had implants and she now wishes she had done the DIEP flap procedure. She’s had several complications. Of course, I believe I had the best plastic surgeon in South Carolina perform my surgery.

What advice would you give to women who have undergone a mastectomy or double mastectomy and are unsure about natural breast reconstruction?

I would and have advised women to have the DIEP flap surgery. It is far better to have natural breast reconstruction than to have a foreign substance placed in the body. I realize advances have been made in breast implants and there are fewer adverse effects; however, I believe that using my own tissue left little opportunity for infections and other complications. I have never regretted having the surgery or choosing Dr. Craigie as my surgeon.

In what ways has breast cancer both negatively and positively affected your life?

The only negative affect breast cancer had in my life was the mastectomy and the chemotherapy. I firmly believe God has a purpose for everything and having breast cancer made me more aware of how fragile life can be. Breast cancer brought my family and friends closer and I hate to say it, but it weeded out those who were truly not my friends. I found out I had breast cancer three days before my wedding and I gave my fiancé the chance to cancel the wedding. He told me he would marry me at my bedside if necessary. So the diagnosis also brought us closer together. I now cherish every moment and I don’t sweat the small stuff (sometimes not even the big stuff).

You and your husband recently relocated from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC where your husband is the Executive Director of Neighborhood House. Tell us a little bit about this non-profit organization and how it helps the community.

Click here to view a document from The Neighborhood House, outlining their mission and daily services to the community.

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“Get Your Squeeze On!” How One Woman Is Spreading Awareness about Mammograms

October 5, 2011 by

When we heard that our former patient, Lee McCracken was launching her own line of tees to help raise money and spread the word for breast cancer awareness, we were thrilled!

We interviewed Lee on her new endeavor with her fabulous “Yes, Ma’am! mammograms are a must” tees and also discovered a little bit about her journey through breast cancer and life after cancer.

Read this inspirational interview below (NOTE: all images in this post were provided by and are owned by Lee McCracken):

1. You started the “Yes, Ma’am! mammograms are a must” tees. Tell us a little about this unique tee and what inspired you to create it? Where do funds go for those who purchase the tee?

I admit it—I NEVER liked getting a mammogram. But then I discovered I disliked breast cancer even more! I’m a two-year survivor and a former patient of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction. This year, my girlfriends and I decided to be a little more organized for the Komen Race for the Cure in our home city of Charlotte, NC. We needed a name and a T-shirt.

So, I began brainstorming.

I tried to think of a fun phrase that was upbeat and also inspirational. “Yes, Ma’am! mammograms are a must” popped into my head one day in May. Of course, the apostrophe in ma’am is the pink ribbon! My girlfriends encouraged me to merchandise the tee on a local, regional—and, dare I say, national—level.

The face of the under-insured and uninsured woman has changed. Given this economic climate, many women, naturally, are putting their children first before seeing to their own healthcare needs. I want to help fund mammograms for women who don’t have health insurance. Locally, 15% (or $3 of every $20 tee sold) is going to the Carolinas Breast Cancer Fund to help women who are qualified by the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

Individuals, groups, and retail outlets who sell the tee in other cities may designate a charity in their community to receive the funds. Anyone interested should connect with me via e-mail: sales@yesmaamtee.com.

yes maam tees

2. What do you hope to accomplish through selling the “Yes, Ma’am!” tee? In other words, what is your vision for the future of the tee and its effect on women?

Wouldn’t it be fun if women all over started wearing their “Yes, Ma’am! mammograms are a must” tees to the coffee house, grocery store, and gym? It makes a sassy statement in Southern style, and people take notice. I’ve seen women look at my tee and then kind of shake their head, almost to say, “Oh yeah, I need to schedule that.”

The Facebook page is generating interest from all over the country. The tee has fans from California to Oklahoma and Florida to Vermont.

A cancer nurse once told me that when breast cancer is caught in Stages 0-1, treatment can be so much easier and survival rates soar. Let’s strive for 100% early detection!

3. What inspired you to start your own freelance writing / editing business, Joyfullee Written, at the age of 49 and what do you provide others with through this business?

I’ve been writing and editing for more than 25 years, sometimes as a freelancer and other times on staff with a local lifestyle or parenting magazine. The formal launch this summer of Joyfullee Written was my birthday gift to myself. I will turn 50 in October and, not only have I survived breast cancer, but I have also survived several other heartbreaking losses. I’m also working on a book—an inspirational memoir about self-discovery and spiritual preservation through motherhood and menopause. Joyfullee Written comes from the fact that all my inspiration and strength spills from the fountain of God’s grace.

Joyfullee Written provides professional writing / editing services to magazines and businesses. I enjoy meeting people and helping them reach their audience through a well-crafted, targeted message. And, with a passion for lifelong learning, this is helping me to keep discovering new things every day.

4. What is the one thing you want all women to know about breast cancer?

The earlier it’s detected the more treatment options women have! I HATE when I hear someone say “I’m a year overdue for my mammogram.” My Stage 1 breast cancer was caught by a mammogram, and I was fortunate not to have to endure chemo or radiation. I know everyone is busy and mammos sometimes are uncomfortable, but it’s crazy to take such a risk.

All my family members and friends know: Get Your Squeeze On!

lee mccrackenAbout Lee McCracken:

Lee McCracken lives with her husband, Stuart, of 28 years in Denver, N.C., a suburb of Charlotte. She has a 19-year-old daughter, Megan, and a 10-year-old Bichon Frise, Benny. She enjoys gardening, photography, reading and traveling. Lee’s girlfriends keep her sane!

Love the Yes, Ma,am! mammograms are a must tees? Buy one today and help spread awareness for mammograms!

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Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Reconstruction Success Story

September 14, 2011 by

according to shirleyWe are so happy to share with you another In Her Words post, this time with Shirley Trainor-Thomas, a breast cancer survivor, Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, and reconstruction success story!

Shirley was a patient of ours at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction and we are delighted to share her story with you.

See below for the interview (*Don’t forget to download a copy of According to Shirley, a short story / information booklet written by Shirley about her breast reconstruction experience):

When you were diagnosed with breast cancer in your left breast, you chose to have a double mastectomy. What influenced this decision? In other words, what factors did you consider when deciding whether or not to have a double mastectomy?

“It’s not good, princess.” Those were the exact words Dr. Bob Flowers used when he called to tell me the results of my biopsy. I promptly informed him that it was not the right answer! And after I caught my breath, I asked what we were going to do about it. He said he would get me to a surgeon that very day. True to his word, my husband and I were in Dr. Stan Wilson’s office that afternoon and we started discussing options. I was a bit of a difficult case because many years ago I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma and radiation to my entire torso—which is what likely caused my breast cancer. There was a lot of discussion among physicians and tests that were taken to make sure we had all of the information we needed to make the best decision.

The waiting to get answers and opinions that would lead to a plan was excruciating. All I could think about was breast cancer and I spent endless hours on the Internet trying to learn everything I could about my diagnosis and choices. My husband and I were in a fog.

Long story short, it appeared that chemo and mastectomy was my option. But, Dr. Wilson wasn’t totally convinced chemo was the really indicated and sent my tissue to have the Oncotype test.   As we waited on those results, we were moving forward with the chemo option. On a Thursday evening, I was preparing for surgery to take place the next morning to have a port put in—and at 8:00 pm, Dr. Wilson called with the Oncotype results—they were great. We opted to not have chemo.

Because other cells in my breasts were described as “busy” by the pathologist, I knew there was a chance of cancer striking my other breast. Given the painful waiting and emotional impact we went through, my husband and I said that we need to eliminate the chance of having to go through this again. Playing into that decision was that I was aware of the DIEP reconstruction option. I’m lucky, not everyone knows about that option and most people have to do a lot of research to find it or the right surgeon. I knew right out of the gate that the only person I would allow to do this procedure was Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

2. What type of reconstruction surgery did you have and how do you feel about the results? Would you make the same decision again if you could go back?

I had DIEP. The great thing for me is that I went into surgery with bosoms and came out with bosoms—and a flat tummy. Bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction were done in one surgery.

Recovery was frustrating. As Dr. Kline kept telling me, “It’s a process.” No matter what he told me, I was convinced I would be back to normal in just a few weeks. Okay, so it took longer.  I got tired easily and couldn’t stand up straight for a while because of the stomach incision. But, my job requires travel and I was able to get on an airplane six weeks after surgery and get back to work.

My energy level took some time to return—it’s a big surgery. But, if faced with the same decision today, knowing what I know, I absolutely would do it again.

My bosoms are perfect.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough tummy fat to make them bigger than they were (my one chance—had I known, I would have eaten a lot more over the years!). Even my oncologist has marveled at how real they look and feel. But I would only allow Dr. Kline and Dr. Craigie to do it. I’ve read some horror stories online about women who went to surgeons who either weren’t trained properly or didn’t have the skill level needed for microsurgery. I actually communicate with women around the country to share my experience and to alert them that they really need to investigate their surgeon’s success record.

3. You decided to write a short story / information booklet about your breast reconstruction experience titled According to Shirley. Why did you choose to write this book and what do you hope readers will get from reading it?

I love Dr. Kline and his entire staff. But, when planning for surgery they gave me a booklet of what to do and expect. After going through the experience, I let them know they left A LOT of information out! It was written by medical professionals who never actually experienced the procedure. When I told them that the information was technically good, but needed to include more practical information, they said fine—write one. So I did. It’s really meant to give women a better idea of what to expect throughout the process and to keep positive about the experience.

4. What advice would you give to women who have undergone a mastectomy or double mastectomy and are unsure about natural breast reconstruction?

Research, research , research. Unfortunately, not all plastic surgeons will present options that they are not capable of providing, such as DIEP. Talk to several surgeons and get a feel for the success rate of the surgeon. Talk to their patients. It’s a major procedure. Women need to know how many procedures the surgeon has done and what his or her success rates are.

Have you downloaded your copy of According to Shirley? If not, click here.

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Do You Know Your Breast Reconstruction Options?

August 24, 2011 by

breast reconstruction optionsWe’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you, today! Dr. Richard Kline, Charleston breast surgeon, and the lovely Leslie Haywood, owner of Grill Charms™ and breast cancer survivor, were recently interviewed on one of our local Charleston news channels. During this interview, Leslie shares her inspirational story of breast cancer survival and how she chose to have the breast surgeons of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction perform her natural breast reconstruction.

Dr. Richard Kline of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction spoke about breast reconstruction options for women who are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer or who have had a mastectomy.

See below for the interview:

If you want to learn even more about Leslie Haywood’s story (and get a chuckle from her hilarious narrative), click here to view one of our recent blog interviews with her.

For those of you who aren’t aware of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction and what we do, here’s a brief description:

Charleston plastic surgeons Dr. James Craigie and Dr. Richard Kline specialize in breast reconstruction for women who have undergone mastectomy and those who are considering risk reducing prophylactic surgery. Some of the procedures performed by these Charleston breast surgeons include DIEP, SIEA, and GAP free flap breast reconstruction, which utilize your own tissue with no implants and no muscle sacrifice.

Our Charleston breast surgeons also perform nipple sparing mastectomy, reconstruction after lumpectomy, microsurgical breast reconstruction, and breast restoration. Visit The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction website at http://www.naturalbreastreconstruction.com/.

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How One Survivor Used Meditation and Support to Find a Brighter Future

August 10, 2011 by

breast cancer survivorWe’re superexcited to share Part II of our guest interview with Debbie Woodbury on our blog, today!

For those of you who missed Part I of this interview, click here.

See below for Part II of our guest interview, where Debbie shares more of her inspirational story, including a look into her Meditation Mondays:

1. Our team at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction loves how you started a Meditation Mondays blog series! Tell us what inspired you to begin meditating and what benefits it provides to you.

Thank you, I love that series too! I was inspired to begin meditation by simple necessity. My cancer diagnosis completely blindsided me. Up until that point, I thought of myself as a healthy person, who looked and felt fine. However, as testing and treatment chipped away at my body, I slowly sunk into sickness. My mastectomy cured my noninvasive cancer, but healing was a whole different matter.

Physically, I had lots of guidance and healed with rest and good care. Emotionally, I was on my own. Luckily, I discovered guided imagery just a few weeks before my mastectomy and used it to calm my anxiety about the impending surgery and loss of my breast. I continued searching for emotional healing and discovered meditation.

Meditation provides me with many, many benefits. As a cancer survivor, it is so easy to drive yourself crazy, worrying about doctors’ appointments, tests, and every ache and pain. Through meditation, I became aware of the voice in my head whose job is to worry. Meditation brings me back to the present moment, where the only thing that exists is what is happening right now.

The funny thing is that I actually had an easier time meditating during my disability, when there was lots of time to sit still. Now that the stresses of family, home, work, and survivorship fill my day, finding time to meditate takes a bigger commitment. It is well worth it, however, and can be done in just minutes a day. Meditation is one of the many gifts cancer brought me and I am so grateful for the “Peace and Joy, Love and Light” it brought into my life.

2. What one piece of advice would you give to women who are struggling with breast cancer and are finding it difficult to look toward a brighter future?

When I was actually going through the diagnostic and treatment phases, I kept going by sheer force of will. I just needed to get through it, especially for my husband and children. After my mastectomy, however, the emotional fallout was overwhelming. Luckily, my cancer center offered free oncology therapy, which I committed to on a weekly basis for approximately a year. I don’t know how I could have processed it all without the help of my wonderful therapists. Without their help dealing with cancer’s losses, I never could have eventually recognized cancer’s gifts.

My one piece of advice would be to get all the support you need, from family and friends, but also from professionals. No one can walk this road alone and no one person can be your only source of support. Ask for and find the help you need to create your brighter future beyond cancer.

Debbie WoodburyAbout Debbie Woodbury:

Debbie Woodbury is a cancer survivor, blogger, speaker, and advocate. She entered the diagnostic and treatment phases of breast cancer in 2008. When she completed treatment in 2009, she was left to deal with cancer’s emotional impact. With the support of family, friends, and wonderful oncology therapists, she was able to create her Gifts and Losses List and eventually realize that “Survival > Existence.” The Gifts and Losses List became the heart of WhereWeGoNow.com, a community of survivors sharing the gifts and losses of lives lived beyond cancer.

Connect with Debbie on Twitter and Facebook. And be sure to visit her blog, Where We Go Now; it’s one of our favorites!

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How One Cancer Survivor Embraces Life After Cancer

August 8, 2011 by
Debbie Woodbury

Debbie Woodbury

We are not only delighted, but we are also extremely honored to introduce our In Her Words guest blogger for today, Debbie Woodbury. As a cancer survivor, blogger, speaker, and advocate, Debbie has become an inspiration to all women—no matter their age or health history. In our interview with Debbie, she talks about her amazing blog, Where We Go Now, and discusses the benefits she, as well as her loyal readers, receive from reading her blog.

See below for our exclusive interview with Debbie:

1. Where We Go Now is a completely unique blog that acts like a community and resource for women. Who is Where We Go Now for and what benefits do you hope readers get from visiting your blog?

Thank you so much for inviting me to lend my voice to In Her Words.  WhereWeGoNow.com was created for cancer survivors exploring the gifts and losses of life beyond cancer. The idea for the site came from my own journey. About nine months after my mastectomy, I startled to realize I was keeping a tally in my head of the changes cancer was bringing me. Although I was excruciatingly aware of the losses, I was begrudgingly recognizing gifts. When I could ignore the gifts no longer, I decided to write them down side by side with the losses.

The losses were obvious, but there were a surprising number of gifts. Introspection, closer relationships, discovering yoga and meditation, making new friends, becoming aware of the present moment, learning to say “yes” to myself, and writing—just to name a few.

That list is now the heart of WhereWeGoNow.com. We’ve all taken major, earth-shattering losses, but I hope readers visiting WhereWeGoNow.com are inspired to recognize cancer’s gifts in their own lives. The most beautiful entries readers have posted are found at the Community Gifts and Losses List page. My Gifts and Losses List helped me find emotional healing and balance after cancer and I hope readers visiting WhereWeGoNow.com receive the same benefit.

2. What benefits do you receive from blogging about your life after cancer? (i.e. clarity, joy in helping others, etc.)

With each blog post I write, I still manage to surprise myself by writing down a thought I didn’t know I had until it hit the screen. Blogging brings me a deeper understanding of what I went through, and continue to experience, because of cancer.

Blogging also taught me that survivorship is a multi-faceted, life-long journey. I’ve blogged about my “beautiful,” eloquent cancer scars; yoga; how giving back to others helped me heal from cancer depression; awful summers and moving beyond them; my first survivors’ walk, the best thing anyone ever said to me about my cancer, and so much more.

Of all the posts I’ve written so far, however, I probably learned the most from the one I wrote about gratitude. I learned in writing that post, which I also gave as a speech, that I never would have recognized cancer’s gifts without gratitude, cancer’s first and most important gift to me.

The most wonderful part of blogging is getting comments back from my readers. It’s so gratifying to know my experiences have struck a chord with other survivors and perhaps made a difference in how they approach their survivorship. I will never say that cancer itself is a gift, because it is not. But recognizing the gifts it brought and continues to bring into my life is very healing for me.

Stay tuned for Part II of our interview with Debbie, which will publish this Wednesday, August 10!

About Debbie Woodbury:

Debbie Woodbury is a cancer survivor, blogger, speaker, and advocate. She entered the diagnostic and treatment phases of breast cancer in 2008. When she completed treatment in 2009, she was left to deal with cancer’s emotional impact. With the support of family, friends, and wonderful oncology therapists, she was able to create her Gifts and Losses List and eventually realize that “Survival > Existence.” The Gifts and Losses List became the heart of WhereWeGoNow.com, a community of survivors sharing the gifts and losses of lives lived beyond cancer.

Connect with Debbie on Twitter and Facebook.

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Having a Positive Outlook on Life Before, During, & After Breast Cancer: Interview with Leslie Haywood

July 27, 2011 by
Leslie Haywood

Leslie Haywood

We are SO excited to share with you Part II of our interview with Leslie Haywood, creator of Grill Charms™. For those of you who have not yet read Part I of this interview, Leslie shared her story as a breast cancer survivor and explained how she started a successful company while undergoing treatments.

We absolutely love how Leslie can be so inspirational and funny at the same time!

If you missed Part I of this interview, click here.

See below for Part II of our exclusive and highly inspirational (not to mention, hilarious!) interview with Leslie Haywood:

1. Your first Grill Charms™ sale was somewhat unexpected! Tell us where you were and how you sold your first Grill Charms™.

Oh yes! My most memorable sale to date! I was in the office for my final “procedure,” if you will. I was in The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction office for my nice pinkish brown tattoo. As you can imagine, I have known all the folks at Dr. Craigie’s office  for over a year by then (and  pretty intimately I must say), so in an effort to help me think about anything other than what she was doing, the nurse asked about how my brand new business was going. Her distraction technique worked! I instantly forgot the discomfort and gave her the complete rundown of Grill Charms™, ending with: “I have a set to show you in my purse over there!”

By the time the nurse was done waving her buzzing magic wand all over my reconstructed girl parts, she said “I need 5!”  I immediately jumped off the table (still half dressed), showed her the set out of my purse, and right then and there, with my cell phone calculator (yep, still topless) I totaled up everything plus tax and she wrote the check on the spot. After our business transaction was done, she helped me with the bandage / pad etc. and I put my clothes back on. I can’t imagine any other sale being quite as “interesting” as this one. Obviously I’m not opposed to be doing business topless, but thankfully I have not had to resort to that since!

 

Grill Charms pink collection

Grill Charms Pink Collection

5. How did you decide which type of breast reconstruction surgery you wanted?

Because of my family history, I feel like I was at an “advantage” (if you can call it that!). I have had YEARS to consider and decide how I would handle a breast cancer diagnosis. Back when my mother had her treatment and reconstruction, there were very few options and she pretty much did what she was told (mastectomy and implant).

I saw what 20 years had done to her reconstruction and had always wanted better for myself. I didn’t like the idea of an implant being in me for all eternity and also knew that I wanted “symmetry” for the rest of my life, so both boobs would HAVE TO GO! The fact that my “baby pooch” would be used to make my new breasts and the fact that I’d have the stomach I used to have in my 20’s, was a BONUS!

Oh, another little story about the surgery (**For those of you who know me, you know I’m the queen of TMI, so you’ll have to excuse my “frankness” when it comes to what some might view as sensitive topics. I apologize if my candor and tone offends anyone.).  Okay… so when the decision was made and we knew that “natural breast reconstruction” was the way to go, and that “belly fat” was where my new breasts were going to come from, I talked to my husband about “size.”  He said “porn star, please” and I said “NO WAY,” but I did want something to show off.  I really wanted to make sure that Dr. Craigie had enough “material” to work with, so I went on an 8-week eating FRENZY!

My family would watch me getting 2nds and 3rds of my favorite food, STEAK! They’d say “Leslie . . . slow down there girl!” and my reply was always the same, “Shut up! I’M MAKING BOOBIES!” For those 8 weeks, food and I had a magical relationship! Ahhh…. I miss those days!

Now what I DID NOT take into account with natural breast reconstruction was how my breasts would look after the surgery. With my tummy flat and my new natural breasts a fabulous B+ maybe C, I wanted do right by my “second chance” and  eat right and exercise to keep it. I have never been more fit in all my life! BUT, because the new breasts are “all natural,” when I started to lose all that “boobie making weight” and toned everything up, my new breasts acted exactly like my old ones. There was a little shrinkage factor! So now I’m more like an A+ to a B-, but I have never been happier with my body and I have never been more in shape in my entire life! Just look how awesome they are! THANKS Dr. Baron for saving my life and thanks Dr.Craigie for making me look and feel better than ever!

6. What would you tell women who have had a mastectomy or are planning on undergoing one about natural breast reconstruction?

You owe it to yourself to at least learn about natural breast reconstruction and fully understand this option. Knowledge is power and you will never regret finding out about what you don’t know. There has not been a single SECOND that I wish that I had done things any differently. Natural breast reconstruction was the absolute best option for me, NO QUESTION!

About Leslie Haywood and Grill Charms™:

Leslie Haywood is founder and President of Charmed Life Products, LLC, and inventor of Grill Charms™. Leslie was a stay-at-home mom when a very spicy light bulb moment thrust her into the entrepreneurial ring. During the start up phase of her company, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but still managed to launch her product on store shelves within 18 months and is now sold in over 400 stores internationally. She has been featured numerous times on CNBC, various local and regional news programs, as well as ABC’s prime time reality TV show Shark Tank seasons I and II. Her story and product have publicized in such magazines as Everyday with Rachael Ray, Parenting magazine, Health magazine, Inventors Digest, and was also featured on The Today Show. All the while she is mindful of “the cause,” whether it’s giving back through “The Pink Collection” of her gift and grilling accessory Grill Charms™, or her work as Honorary Chair for The Race for the Cure .

Leslie’s Special Offer:

***Put “natural” in the coupon code of www.grillcharms.com for 10% off!***

If you loved this post as much as we did, share it with your friends on Facebook.

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How One Entrepreneur Didn’t Let Breast Cancer Get In The Way of Her Success

July 25, 2011 by

Leslie with her girls.

When Grill Charms™ creator, Leslie Haywood, agreed to participate in a guest interview for our blog we were ecstatic to share her story with our blog readers. We KNOW you are going to love her story.

We’ve known Leslie Haywood for over a year now and, to date, she has been one of our favorite patients! When Leslie was diagnosed with breast cancer, she came to the team at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction to receive a breast reconstruction procedure from Dr. Craigie. And something sort of funny happened. She made her first Grill Charms™ sale topless in the doctor’s office! But I won’t spoil the story for you (and there’s even a SPECIAL OFFER, just for you, our blog readers, at the end of this blog post!).

Read below for Part I of our exclusive interview with Leslie:

1. You are truly an inspiration to women who have been affected by breast cancer! You started your own company, Grill Charms™, and had mommy responsibilities, all while you were undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Tell us how you managed to stay positive and what inspired you to keep moving forward with your business during this difficult time.

Yes, two months into starting my company I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t say it was much of a surprise. My first introduction to breast cancer was 1989 when at the tender age of 16 my 30-something-year-old parents told us that my mother had breast cancer. By the time they caught it, she was stage IV and the doctors told her she had 6 months to live.

In the months that followed,  my parents along with their best friends stayed up nights and weekends trying to figure out how my father, who was a master chief on nuclear submarines in the Navy, and only home 6 months out of the year was going to raise his 10, 12 and 16 year- old daughters alone. I had been living with the reality that there was a high probably that someday; I too might be facing this disease. The fact that it happened shortly after I started on my quest to conquer the world one cookout at a time, was a bit of a nuance however!

It wasn’t long when the sentinel node biopsy showed that THIS cancer would not kill me. We knew early on that I would not have to make plans for my daughters’ lives without a mother. I think it was during this time that people started thinking I was in denial. Here I was, diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34 with 1 and 3 year old daughters, a brand new company and yet I was truly the happiest women on earth. “You mean to tell me doctor, that I have breast cancer and you didn’t give me an expiration date??!?!”

Non terminal breast cancer . . . what a precious, precious gift I was given! Now that it is all said and done, I’ve got two brand new pieces / parts (and let’s face it . . .  after nursing two babies, they weren’t much to write home about anyway), a bonus tuck (THANK YOU DR. CRAIGIE!) and most importantly . . . I get to live. I always viewed them as a pair of B-sized ticking time bombs anyways, so good riddance. There was certainly no time to dwell on THAT, I had steaks to save and taste buds to rescue! By the way . . . about my mom . . . the doctors underestimated her… my mother is still here, 23 years cancer free!

2. Grill Charms™ are adorable and perfect for individuals who love to host outdoor parties. What are Grill Charms and how do they work?

Why thank you! Grill Charms™ offers an entirely new concept in outdoor entertaining. They are dime-sized solid stainless steel charms that are placed in your food BEFORE grilling. The serrated stems hold them in securely while flipping, moving, and grilling food like you normally do. Grill Charms™ are you use in food prior to cooking to distinguish spices and flavors, steak temperatures, or to avoid health or allergy issues. Grill Charms™ identifies your food before, during, and after grilling so when dinner comes off the grill, simply look for your Grill Charm™, and everyone knows which one is theirs. With four collections for different purposes, they are the perfect gift for Father’s Day, birthdays, groomsmen, Valentine’s Day, other holidays, and housewarming or hostess gifts—you name it!

3. You started a Pink Collection of Grill Charms™, which we absolutely love! Tell us about these charms and where the proceeds go.

For a truly unique grilling and dining experience, The Pink Collection has six different charms so food can be personalized prior to grilling to distinguish spices and flavors, to avoid health, or allergy concerns or for any reason you can dream up! There is a hot new party trend with this collection, and that is the “Season Your Own” cook-out. This is where the host provides the meat, the guests pick their Grill Charm™, then choose from a variety of sauces or rubs that the host has set out. Guests flavor their meat any way they wish and nobody, including the grill master, needs to know or care how it’s seasoned.

 

The Pink Collection

The Pink Collection of Grill Charms™

When the food is served off the grill, folks simply look for their Grill Charm™. With people watching every penny, it’s more important than ever that when they splurge on buying that filet, or carefully choose that chicken breast to spend their hard-earned money on, that it’s cooked and seasoned exactly the way they want it.  And with The Pink Collection, I donate 10% of the proceeds to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, as well as my local Komen Foundation.

This collection also helps with health or allergy issues. With Grill Charms™, if someone has a specific health or dietary need (such as needing a no-sodium, low-sugar, or possibly a gluten-free spice alternative), Grill Charms™ makes it easy for people to identify their food before, during, and after grilling, without any confusion or effort on the part of the grill master.

About Leslie Haywood and Grill Charms™:

Leslie Haywood is founder and President of Charmed Life Products, LLC, and inventor of Grill Charms™. Leslie was a stay-at-home mom when a very spicy light bulb moment thrust her into the entrepreneurial ring. During the start up phase of her company, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but still managed to launch her product on store shelves within 18 months and is now sold in over 400 stores internationally. She has been featured numerous times on CNBC, various local and regional news programs, as well as ABC’s prime time reality TV show Shark Tank seasons I and II. Her story and product have publicized in such magazines as Everyday with Rachael Ray, Parenting magazine, Health magazine, Inventors Digest, and was also featured on The Today Show. All the while she is mindful of “the cause,” whether it’s giving back through “The Pink Collection” of her gift and grilling accessory Grill Charms™, or her work as Honorary Chair for The Race for the Cure .

Leslie’s Special Offer:

***Put “natural” in the coupon code of www.grillcharms.com for 10% off!***

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Are Implant Problems Affecting Your Life?

May 25, 2011 by

implant problemsBelow is an In Her Words post from one of our patients who came to us with implant problems. Read her story below:

I am so thankful to Dr. Craigie and Dr. Kline and Christina for making me feel at ease. Meeting someone for the first time and having surgery the same week was a lot to take in, but thanks to everyone, including The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction staff, Christine, and Gillian. And a special, big thank you to Gail for helping me with my insurance and all the conversations we had prior to my office visit with Dr. Craigie. Gail, thank you for making me feel like a person not a number, you are wonderful!

I cannot say enough about the results from my surgery! It was absolutely fantastic to say the least! I am amazed how natural I look! I really am excited to have my follow-up. Can it get any better? I do not have the pain in my breasts or the hardness and pulling from the implant anymore. I can lift my arms straight up over my head now! I noticed that I don’t have the flu-like feeling anymore—it’s gone!

Before coming to Dr. Craigie’s office, I have had five painful surgeries with implants and expanders going wrong with infections, plus lengthy hospital stays and home care. This was over a period of four years—four years taken out of not only my life but also my family’s life. Just think of how much time and money was wasted on paying insurance companies when I could have had only one surgery and a follow-up! If I only knew there was an alternative option before having my first implants.

My goal is to get the word out. Women need to know that you do have an alternative, besides using implants. Utilizing the body’s own tissue! Again, I was never given this option.

I cannot thank you enough Dr. Craigie and Dr. Kline for your skilled surgical talents and dedication in this field that made me look and feel like a women again!

Sincerely,
D.N South Amherst, Ohio

Do you know of someone whose life is affected by implant problems? Share this story with them.

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A Journey You Don’t Have to Take Alone

April 27, 2011 by
breast cancer survivor

Shirley's book cover

Dear Sister in this Journey,

My name is Shirley. I have just undergone a double mastectomy and breast reconstructive surgery as a result of having breast cancer. I am one of the fortunate ones who did not have to endure chemotherapy, as well.

My cancer was in my left breast, but I chose to have a double mastectomy to mitigate future risk of recurrence.  Based on the reputation and firsthand knowledge I had of Dr. Kline and Dr. Craigie, I chose the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction to take care of my small, but precious bosoms.

Once the decision was made to move forward with bilateral DIEP reconstruction surgery, I was given a patient handbook that provided information about what to do pre and post surgery. No offense to the medical team that put together a technically comprehensive document, but boy did they leave out a lot of information that would have been helpful! The kinds of things that, really, only a patient would know.

So, I thought I’d write about my personal experiences to share with others—maybe it will help those who are about to undergo a DIEP reconstruction procedure to be more prepared and know more about what to expect. If you would like a copy of my booklet, get in touch with the center at www.naturalbreastreconstruction.com, they’ll be happy to give you one.

It’s all from my perspective and I hope it helps in understanding what will happen. And I hope it helps keep others positive as they face the surgery.

Good luck on your Journey!

Most sincerely,

Shirley Trainor-Thomas

Breast Cancer Survivor

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivor

Reconstruction Success Story

Did you find Shirley’s story inspirational and know of others who will? Share it with your friends on Facebook.

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