SD Team Robusta

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SD Team Robusta I am a disabled person working with my successor dog, Robusta. He came from an accredited program in Central PA.

I try to advocate for service animals and the disabled community whenever possible.

Post-OP appointment this morning in Hershey. Went well. I still have my drains as they didn't meet the recommendation fo...
10/14/2026

Post-OP appointment this morning in Hershey. Went well. I still have my drains as they didn't meet the recommendation for removal, but they are headed in the right direction. No signs of infection, but there were delayed signs of healing.

For me, that means increasing my movement and protein intake. I've been bad about both. Movement gets the blood circulating and promotes healing. It also prevents blood clots, which can happen if you are sedentary. I just have to balance my ability to get around with my need to keep my body moving.

We have been blessed to have people drop off dinner for our family. It has been a huge help to keep me and my family healthy. I have to make more of effort to eat during the day... I just get so tired and it takes a lot of energy just to sit up and eat. I am just glad that my body is healing and headed in the right direction.



Image Description:
A woman with pink hair, sunglasses and a green button up shirt is riding in a car. Across her chest is a purple pillow to protect her chest incisions during car rides.

10/13/2026

Trigger Warning: Graphic Images of Wound care, stitches, post double mastectomy

Debated making this video; debated even more about sharing it. Decided to bare it all at the end of the video because the number of women who will be in my shoes is staggering!

Knowledge or having an idea of "what comes next" can help lower fear and anxiety for some people. For some, it can make it worse... which is why I posted the trigger warning. I want educate anyone who hasn't been through this.

The video was originally over 12 minutes long. I sped it up to be less than 2 minutes. Please be nice about what you see at the end of the video. I've already been crying today. I am still in pain, but it's manageable. I can get up to the bathroom with help. I have a constant pressure in my chest thanks to the expanders. It hurts to take a deep breath, so I am still limiting how much I talk. Overall, just hanging in there until pathology comes back on my lymph nodes.



Video Description:
A woman is laying down on a bed. The camera is filming from her right side. There is a man with red hair and a beard who is helping her change out her postoperative dressings. This was painful and took several minutes to complete. The woman stops the procedure a few times to fan herself. The pain had peaked and she was trying to prevent passing out. At one point, the man in the video grabs a remote control for the air conditioning unit to help assist her.

Thank God for the people who love me. Seriously.So many of you have reached out with words of encouragement, words of he...
10/12/2026

Thank God for the people who love me. Seriously.

So many of you have reached out with words of encouragement, words of healing and strength... and some pretty funny stories about the daily happenings in your lives. It takes a lot for me to type a message. I also can't take a deep breath yet, so I try to limit my talking... the pain is more manageable today.

HUGE UPDATE TODAY!

I got my butt in the shower for the first time since my double mastectomy. My husband and my caregiver were both there to keep me safe. No falls or loss of conciousness this time!

I even had the amazing Addy Grace surprise us today with donuts. She was so sweet to wash my hair for me while we chatted. It felt like we were just 2 women hanging out at the salon spilling the Tea. It felt normal. Addy is the one who helped me donate my hair and go blonde several weeks ago.

Unfortunately, Addy doesn't normally do housecalls... sorry, I'm special... BUT you can call SmartStyle in Elizabethville, PA to have her do your hair.

I actually feel semi-human again! I am so happy to not smell so bad. I was smelling myself this morning... phewy... I'd divorce myself over that funk. I have been sleeping so much the last few days. I hope it's helping me heal faster.



Image Description:
A woman with wet, pink hair wearing a light pink bra and blue flannel shirt is smiling at the camera. She is holding 2 chest drains that are hooked onto her pink bra. Behind her head is a light green towel.

My fall alert bracelet is charged and tested... set up on my wrist, just in case. For the most part, my husband helps me...
10/10/2026

My fall alert bracelet is charged and tested... set up on my wrist, just in case.

For the most part, my husband helps me to the bathroom. Middle of the night, I may have tried to take myself to p*e and gave my husband a heart attack. This is my back up should something happen.

Please don't mind my crazy hair. I haven't showered in days.



Image Description:
A woman with bright pink hair, glasses and a blue flannel shirt is looking up at the camera from her bed. Her left hand is across her chest with a reverse peace sign; on the same wrist is a dark black monitor that looks like a smart watch. The monitor keeps her safe and alerts someone if she falls.

10/08/2026

I need to tell you about this man.

This man continues to surprise me. He was the one who used to struggle over an explosive diaper...he would desperately try not to gag. He used to half throw up cleaning up dog vomit or p**p. I never expected him to be able to take care of me in the ways that he has. Beside taking care of the 3 kids, 2 dogs, and our house, he is also taking care of me. I have a caregiver to help me that insurance covers for 4 hours a day, 3 days a week. It was a pain to get approved for 12 hours a week. Outside of that, Matt takes care of everything I need. Would your partner do that?

He gets me back and forth to the bathroom. He helps me with transfers from one place to another. I can't reach to wipe myself, so he has been doing that too. He makes sure I have plenty to eat and drink. He also pays attention to my face and body language when I am doing anything. He knows how my body is handling things by watching my facial expressions. Yesterday, I almost went unconscious trying to get to the toilet to p*e. He knew something was off immediately after I sat down. He got me back to bed before I blacked out because of his fast reaction. It was scary for both of us.

Today, the surgeon agreed that I needed another couple days of pain meds and placed an order. I am still taking the same dose, 5 mg, but now I am taking it every 4 hours instead of every 6. It is helping control my pain to let me get up to go to the bathroom. Yesterday, I was in so much pain I could not get up to go to the bathroom. You read that right. I have special underwear for that reason. That was a humbling experience.



Video Description:
A red headed man in a green shirt and shorts is looking at 2 cups with a mixture of bloody discharge in each cups. He is measuring the output from his wife's chest drains. The camera pans to his wife with pink hair, wearing a light pink bra under a blue flannel shirt. She has tubes coming out from each side of her chest. At the end of the tubes, there are 2 clear plastic bulbs collecting the discharge from her chest.

Did you know? That the dog trainers at Susquehanna Service Dogs wear many hats? It's such a small, small world!Let me ex...
10/08/2026

Did you know? That the dog trainers at Susquehanna Service Dogs wear many hats?

It's such a small, small world!

Let me explain.

While I was still in the hospital, I saw a woman with blonde hair of a shorter stature walk into my hospital room one early morning. She was my nurse for that shift. I instantly knew that I knew her... but from where? I couldn't remember. My twins had been NICU babies. Could she have been their NICU nurse? No. Then, I saw her sweatshirt. It was light blue with white outlined drawings of different dogs. Then it hit me, she was a trainer for Susquehanna Service Dogs! She was with me during team training last year when I was matched with Robusta. She literally walked beside me and guided me on how to get Robusta to do his cues. Now, she was walking beside me as I recovered from a breast cancer surgery. I love when parts of my world collide.

I meant to ask her if we could take a picture, but we got side tracked... and then I got discharged. It was so nice running into someone I know. Thank you, Miss Vicki for being such a wonderful caregiver! She was so kind and gentle during a very, painful, vulnerable time. You are tough enough to train puppers, but also gentle enough to care for someone at one their lowest moments. Thank you for loaning me your strength and hope.

Thank you, Miss Vicki!



Image Description:
A woman with bright pink hair and a hospital gown is laying in a hospital bed looking at the camera. She is holding her left hand to make a peace sign.

10/07/2026

Struggling today. Don't ever tell me that my cancer has been "easy." Cancer is never easy.

Also, I lost some more followers recently. Not sure if it's related to my content or what... but just so you know, Robusta and I are a team. What happens to a member of the team is relevant to this page.

10/06/2026

It's Tuesday Night and I'm already a hot mess, literally. Thank you to everyone who has reached out! The b***y surgery went well. Now, we wait 2 weeks for pathology on my lymph nodes.

Keep sending that good energy, vibes and prayers my way, please.

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1700 S Lincoln Ave
Lebanon, PA
17042

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