Story
Name
Amber Brick-Smieja
Injury/Illness
Breast Cancer
Amber is a mother of 3 active children, ages 13, 11 and 9 and a wife. She and her husband are small business owners in the Twin Cities area. On March 21st, Amber was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and is Grade 3. Her double mastectomy will happen on April 24th 2023. The recovery period is approximately 6 weeks. She has opted for reconstruction that will be an additional 3 surgeries taking 6 months to complete. The clinic stage at this time is stage IIB. More will be known after the surgery to learn more on the involvement of the lymph nodes.
June-Sept 2023 - I went through 4 rounds of Chemo therapy which ended Sept 15, 2023. Chemo was every 28 days, I lost my long blonde hair, but smiled through it. My hair is growing back dark brown and curly, I love it.
Oct - Nov 2023- I completed 25 rounds of radiation. I completed radiation just in time to go ice fishing with my husband the day after Thanksgiving.
June 2024- Reconstruction started. This was the hardest surgery I went through so far. They needed to take my back muscles and tunnel them through my armpit to create a breast pocket for later fat grafting.
Nov 1st 2024 - First or two fat grafting reconstruction procedures. Had my first post-op appt and we are happy with how things are looking. I will have another follow-up in 6 weeks to place the next grafting.
I currently have PT twice a week for lymphodema and frozen shoulder. Physical Therapy will be needed for 6 more months. We live in a small town and my clinic is 30 minutes away. Thank you!