all right it’s not impossible how many of you have ever found yourself on a
of you have ever found yourself on a
of you have ever found yourself on a journey of hard a little more than two
journey of hard a little more than two
journey of hard a little more than two years ago I found myself on that journey
years ago I found myself on that journey
years ago I found myself on that journey I’m here to tell you to encourage you
I’m here to tell you to encourage you
I’m here to tell you to encourage you that hard it’s not impossible I got up
that hard it’s not impossible I got up
that hard it’s not impossible I got up one morning and I found a lump in my
one morning and I found a lump in my
one morning and I found a lump in my right breast I wasn’t concerned until
right breast I wasn’t concerned until
right breast I wasn’t concerned until the next day when my husband also
the next day when my husband also
the next day when my husband also noticed I called my doctor and she said
noticed I called my doctor and she said
noticed I called my doctor and she said it’s probably nothing
it’s probably nothing
it’s probably nothing I was so relieved until the following
I was so relieved until the following
I was so relieved until the following week when I found a second lump
week when I found a second lump
week when I found a second lump after many doctor’s appointments I got
after many doctor’s appointments I got
after many doctor’s appointments I got the call
the call
the call you have her2 positive breast cancer two
you have her2 positive breast cancer two
you have her2 positive breast cancer two hundred and forty six thousand six
hundred and forty six thousand six
hundred and forty six thousand six hundred and sixty women in the US this
hundred and sixty women in the US this
hundred and sixty women in the US this year alone will have breast cancer
year alone will have breast cancer
year alone will have breast cancer that’s one out of every eight women
that’s one out of every eight women
that’s one out of every eight women twenty percent of those women will have
twenty percent of those women will have
twenty percent of those women will have a fast-growing aggressive form of cancer
a fast-growing aggressive form of cancer
a fast-growing aggressive form of cancer called her2 positive of those forty
called her2 positive of those forty
called her2 positive of those forty thousand four hundred and fifty will die
thousand four hundred and fifty will die
thousand four hundred and fifty will die of breast cancer this year alone those
of breast cancer this year alone those
of breast cancer this year alone those are staggering statistics I knew in my
are staggering statistics I knew in my
are staggering statistics I knew in my heart of hearts that I needed a fight I
heart of hearts that I needed a fight I
heart of hearts that I needed a fight I knew that this was something that I
knew that this was something that I
knew that this was something that I needed to win I knew that it was up to
needed to win I knew that it was up to
needed to win I knew that it was up to me I sought a surgeon I knew that I
me I sought a surgeon I knew that I
me I sought a surgeon I knew that I wanted to use my own breasts I sat down
wanted to use my own breasts I sat down
wanted to use my own breasts I sat down and I talked to my surgeon she told me
and I talked to my surgeon she told me
and I talked to my surgeon she told me that I did not have the genetic link
that I did not have the genetic link
that I did not have the genetic link that I could choose to have a single
that I could choose to have a single
that I could choose to have a single mastectomy she also shared with me that
mastectomy she also shared with me that
mastectomy she also shared with me that many women had a double mastectomy for
many women had a double mastectomy for
many women had a double mastectomy for the purpose of uniformity and for peace
the purpose of uniformity and for peace
the purpose of uniformity and for peace of mind I told her that I had met with a
of mind I told her that I had met with a
of mind I told her that I had met with a genetic specialist and the genetic
genetic specialist and the genetic
genetic specialist and the genetic specialist told me that with my large
specialist told me that with my large
specialist told me that with my large family
family
family history of cancer there were just things
history of cancer there were just things
history of cancer there were just things they didn’t know how to read yet I also
they didn’t know how to read yet I also
they didn’t know how to read yet I also shared with her that I had a family
shared with her that I had a family
shared with her that I had a family history of having relatives have breast
history of having relatives have breast
history of having relatives have breast cancer in one breast and then years
cancer in one breast and then years
cancer in one breast and then years later having cancer in the opposite
later having cancer in the opposite
later having cancer in the opposite breast I grappled with what she was
breast I grappled with what she was
breast I grappled with what she was saying I realized that here in my brain
saying I realized that here in my brain
saying I realized that here in my brain I heard the surgeon saying I could have
I heard the surgeon saying I could have
I heard the surgeon saying I could have a single mastectomy
a single mastectomy
a single mastectomy I also heard on the other hand the
I also heard on the other hand the
I also heard on the other hand the genetic counselor telling me there are
genetic counselor telling me there are
genetic counselor telling me there are things that we don’t know how to read
things that we don’t know how to read
things that we don’t know how to read yet and in my heart of hearts I knew I
yet and in my heart of hearts I knew I
yet and in my heart of hearts I knew I never wanted to chemo and surgery again
never wanted to chemo and surgery again
never wanted to chemo and surgery again but yet I wondered should I waste a
but yet I wondered should I waste a
but yet I wondered should I waste a perfectly good breast I grappled with
perfectly good breast I grappled with
perfectly good breast I grappled with this decision I spoke with my husband
this decision I spoke with my husband
this decision I spoke with my husband about it my husband said you have
about it my husband said you have
about it my husband said you have everything you need to make the correct
everything you need to make the correct
everything you need to make the correct decision regardless I love you that was
decision regardless I love you that was
decision regardless I love you that was so sweet but I still had to give this
so sweet but I still had to give this
so sweet but I still had to give this some thought I knew in my heart of
some thought I knew in my heart of
some thought I knew in my heart of hearts that if I didn’t eliminate the
hearts that if I didn’t eliminate the
hearts that if I didn’t eliminate the left breast I didn’t know if I would
left breast I didn’t know if I would
left breast I didn’t know if I would survive with my big cancer history this
survive with my big cancer history this
survive with my big cancer history this was still something that I had to think
was still something that I had to think
was still something that I had to think about
about
about I knew though that after speaking to
I knew though that after speaking to
I knew though that after speaking to people that I wanted to use my own body
people that I wanted to use my own body
people that I wanted to use my own body to recreate my breast you might be
to recreate my breast you might be
to recreate my breast you might be asking me why I wanted to use my own
asking me why I wanted to use my own
asking me why I wanted to use my own body I wanted to use my own body because
body I wanted to use my own body because
body I wanted to use my own body because implants they’re hard they’re cold
implants they’re hard they’re cold
implants they’re hard they’re cold they have no sensation in them
they have no sensation in them
they have no sensation in them whatsoever I wanted to feel like me I
whatsoever I wanted to feel like me I
whatsoever I wanted to feel like me I wanted to feel fully woman I wanted to
wanted to feel fully woman I wanted to
wanted to feel fully woman I wanted to feel sensual again I wanted to feel
feel sensual again I wanted to feel
feel sensual again I wanted to feel sexual with my husband my breasts
sexual with my husband my breasts
sexual with my husband my breasts represented my strength they were such a
represented my strength they were such a
represented my strength they were such a large part of me they were surely I
large part of me they were surely I
large part of me they were surely I spoke to my surgeon and she informed me
spoke to my surgeon and she informed me
spoke to my surgeon and she informed me that there were no micro surgeons in my
that there were no micro surgeons in my
that there were no micro surgeons in my area that could do this procedure this
area that could do this procedure this
area that could do this procedure this would be a complicated procedure
would be a complicated procedure
would be a complicated procedure I wondered am I being selfish I wanted
I wondered am I being selfish I wanted
I wondered am I being selfish I wanted to feel totally me
to feel totally me
to feel totally me wanting to have beautiful breasts again
wanting to have beautiful breasts again
wanting to have beautiful breasts again these were just thoughts that continued
these were just thoughts that continued
these were just thoughts that continued to go through my brain but yet I weighed
to go through my brain but yet I weighed
to go through my brain but yet I weighed them against the fact that if I did a
them against the fact that if I did a
them against the fact that if I did a more complicated procedure it would mean
more complicated procedure it would mean
more complicated procedure it would mean that I would have to travel it would
that I would have to travel it would
that I would have to travel it would mean that my local hospital couldn’t do
mean that my local hospital couldn’t do
mean that my local hospital couldn’t do this my local hospital could offer me
this my local hospital could offer me
this my local hospital could offer me saline or gel implants my local hospital
saline or gel implants my local hospital
saline or gel implants my local hospital could offer me a mastectomy where I
could offer me a mastectomy where I
could offer me a mastectomy where I wasn’t rebuild the thing about not being
wasn’t rebuild the thing about not being
wasn’t rebuild the thing about not being rebuilt is once a woman has a mastectomy
rebuilt is once a woman has a mastectomy
rebuilt is once a woman has a mastectomy you have no sensation ever again in your
you have no sensation ever again in your
you have no sensation ever again in your breasts there’s no feeling there’s no
breasts there’s no feeling there’s no
breasts there’s no feeling there’s no warmth there’s no touch I knew I wanted
warmth there’s no touch I knew I wanted
warmth there’s no touch I knew I wanted to use my own body to create this that
to use my own body to create this that
to use my own body to create this that sought out having to find a micro
sought out having to find a micro
sought out having to find a micro surgeon and again I asked myself am I
surgeon and again I asked myself am I
surgeon and again I asked myself am I being selfish I came to the conclusion
being selfish I came to the conclusion
being selfish I came to the conclusion that even though it would take me more
that even though it would take me more
that even though it would take me more time more effort it would require more
time more effort it would require more
time more effort it would require more of my family my friends would have to
of my family my friends would have to
of my family my friends would have to step up and help that this was the right
step up and help that this was the right
step up and help that this was the right decision for me I decided to use a micro
decision for me I decided to use a micro
decision for me I decided to use a micro surgeon the micro surgeon and I would
surgeon the micro surgeon and I would
surgeon the micro surgeon and I would use would use a procedure called a pap
use would use a procedure called a pap
use would use a procedure called a pap flap on me this procedure would take the
flap on me this procedure would take the
flap on me this procedure would take the back portion of my thighs here look at
back portion of my thighs here look at
back portion of my thighs here look at the blood vessels in it it would take
the blood vessels in it it would take
the blood vessels in it it would take the blood vessels out of there the skin
the blood vessels out of there the skin
the blood vessels out of there the skin the fat out of the back portion of my
the fat out of the back portion of my
the fat out of the back portion of my thighs and it would reconnect them to my
thighs and it would reconnect them to my
thighs and it would reconnect them to my breast the surgery would cut me from my
breast the surgery would cut me from my
breast the surgery would cut me from my pelvis all the way three quarters of the
pelvis all the way three quarters of the
pelvis all the way three quarters of the way around my body it would take that
way around my body it would take that
way around my body it would take that fat and repot it into my breast it would
fat and repot it into my breast it would
fat and repot it into my breast it would connect the vessels back into my breast
connect the vessels back into my breast
connect the vessels back into my breast cavity those breasts would have
cavity those breasts would have
cavity those breasts would have sensation again they would have feeling
sensation again they would have feeling
sensation again they would have feeling they would have warmth I would feel like
they would have warmth I would feel like
they would have warmth I would feel like a full woman again they were part of my
a full woman again they were part of my
a full woman again they were part of my identity and part of my strength this
identity and part of my strength this
identity and part of my strength this procedure the mastectomy procedure and
procedure the mastectomy procedure and
procedure the mastectomy procedure and the path loss procedure would require
the path loss procedure would require
the path loss procedure would require two surgeons working together to produce
two surgeons working together to produce
two surgeons working together to produce this effect for me in the end the
this effect for me in the end the
this effect for me in the end the scarring was minimal I was in the
scarring was minimal I was in the
scarring was minimal I was in the hospital for five days
hospital for five days
hospital for five days I was so happy that I had this procedure
I was so happy that I had this procedure
I was so happy that I had this procedure that I chose to do it this way
that I chose to do it this way
that I chose to do it this way I had to continually wait to have
I had to continually wait to have
I had to continually wait to have repetitive surgeries after the funny
repetitive surgeries after the funny
repetitive surgeries after the funny thing is after I have these breasts I
thing is after I have these breasts I
thing is after I have these breasts I felt wonderful except I had no nipples I
felt wonderful except I had no nipples I
felt wonderful except I had no nipples I was like Barbie what I did was I found a
was like Barbie what I did was I found a
was like Barbie what I did was I found a man named Vinnie Vinnie
man named Vinnie Vinnie
man named Vinnie Vinnie he’s a 3d tattoo artist not just any
he’s a 3d tattoo artist not just any
he’s a 3d tattoo artist not just any tattoo artist Vinnie
tattoo artist Vinnie
tattoo artist Vinnie he creates incredible work of arts he’s
he creates incredible work of arts he’s
he creates incredible work of arts he’s known as the Michelangelo of nipples
Vinnie and his team they create 3d
Vinnie and his team they create 3d nipple in a rola tattoos incredible what
nipple in a rola tattoos incredible what
nipple in a rola tattoos incredible what they are able to do they use up to 12
they are able to do they use up to 12
they are able to do they use up to 12 colors and unlike what you would find in
colors and unlike what you would find in
colors and unlike what you would find in a surgeon’s office they are fully
a surgeon’s office they are fully
a surgeon’s office they are fully trained they know that your breasts
trained they know that your breasts
trained they know that your breasts after having these surgeries it’s been
after having these surgeries it’s been
after having these surgeries it’s been it’s scarred it might be burnt it takes
it’s scarred it might be burnt it takes
it’s scarred it might be burnt it takes a special touch Vinnie’s team is able to
a special touch Vinnie’s team is able to
a special touch Vinnie’s team is able to do that what happened was my surgeon
do that what happened was my surgeon
do that what happened was my surgeon flew the Vinnie Meyers team in viña
flew the Vinnie Meyers team in viña
flew the Vinnie Meyers team in viña miners team for me
miners team for me
miners team for me they created breasts for me Trent he was
they created breasts for me Trent he was
they created breasts for me Trent he was incredible he put the topping on the
incredible he put the topping on the
incredible he put the topping on the cake
cake
cake he created the look in the feel of the
he created the look in the feel of the
he created the look in the feel of the nipples that my surgeon had created he
nipples that my surgeon had created he
nipples that my surgeon had created he created Montgomery glands and he created
created Montgomery glands and he created
created Montgomery glands and he created nipples
nipples
nipples he chose the perfect colored so it would
he chose the perfect colored so it would
he chose the perfect colored so it would match my own skin tone using up to 12
match my own skin tone using up to 12
match my own skin tone using up to 12 colors I was so excited when I looked
colors I was so excited when I looked
colors I was so excited when I looked down and I saw my breasts with nipples
down and I saw my breasts with nipples
down and I saw my breasts with nipples I felt whole I felt complete really it
I felt whole I felt complete really it
I felt whole I felt complete really it was awesome
was awesome
was awesome the Vinny Meyers team and dr. Cardy they
the Vinny Meyers team and dr. Cardy they
the Vinny Meyers team and dr. Cardy they gave me incredible gift
gave me incredible gift
gave me incredible gift they helped me feel whole they helped me
they helped me feel whole they helped me
they helped me feel whole they helped me to walk through this surgery and this
to walk through this surgery and this
to walk through this surgery and this procedure better not bitter in the end I
procedure better not bitter in the end I
procedure better not bitter in the end I was so happy that I chose this procedure
was so happy that I chose this procedure
was so happy that I chose this procedure this journey it’s been hard but it’s
this journey it’s been hard but it’s
this journey it’s been hard but it’s been so worth it I walked out of this
been so worth it I walked out of this
been so worth it I walked out of this journey with a few perspectives
journey with a few perspectives
journey with a few perspectives I knew that this was hard but I also
I knew that this was hard but I also
I knew that this was hard but I also knew that I had a toolbox my toolbox
knew that I had a toolbox my toolbox
knew that I had a toolbox my toolbox told me that I could choose better my
told me that I could choose better my
told me that I could choose better my toolbox I filled it with love I filled
toolbox I filled it with love I filled
toolbox I filled it with love I filled it with gratitude I filled it with
it with gratitude I filled it with
it with gratitude I filled it with people that cared about me and in the
people that cared about me and in the
people that cared about me and in the end I didn’t disregard that there was
end I didn’t disregard that there was
end I didn’t disregard that there was fear in the end I filled it with hope I
fear in the end I filled it with hope I
fear in the end I filled it with hope I filled it with faith my faith had
filled it with faith my faith had
filled it with faith my faith had fortified me it allowed me to get
fortified me it allowed me to get
fortified me it allowed me to get through in the end so in the end
through in the end so in the end
through in the end so in the end finished and product that you see is
finished and product that you see is
finished and product that you see is Shirley Prescott in the end the
Shirley Prescott in the end the
Shirley Prescott in the end the finishing product that you see is fully
finishing product that you see is fully
finishing product that you see is fully woman I’m in love with my life and I get
woman I’m in love with my life and I get
woman I’m in love with my life and I get the capability to continue to live it
the capability to continue to live it
the capability to continue to live it this next slide that I’m going to show
this next slide that I’m going to show
this next slide that I’m going to show you is sampling from the vinny meyers
you is sampling from the vinny meyers
you is sampling from the vinny meyers team these are breasts that have no
team these are breasts that have no
team these are breasts that have no tattoos the underlying breast here the
tattoos the underlying breast here the
tattoos the underlying breast here the samples from Vinny Mira’s website these
samples from Vinny Mira’s website these
samples from Vinny Mira’s website these breasts they look like they have
breasts they look like they have
breasts they look like they have protrusion they look like they have
protrusion they look like they have
protrusion they look like they have nipples that is an image that you see
nipples that is an image that you see
nipples that is an image that you see only with your mind’s eye in the end I
only with your mind’s eye in the end I
only with your mind’s eye in the end I wanted to emerge strong I wanted to
wanted to emerge strong I wanted to
wanted to emerge strong I wanted to emerge whole I wanted to show my
emerge whole I wanted to show my
emerge whole I wanted to show my daughter and all of my friends that hard
daughter and all of my friends that hard
daughter and all of my friends that hard it’s not impossible quite honestly it’s
it’s not impossible quite honestly it’s
it’s not impossible quite honestly it’s just hard thank you
just hard thank you
just hard thank you [Applause]
”
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