It's almost here! Time to meet survivor-warrior Pat Eells! Pat was a BFF to one of our survivors last year in Boulder, so is almost a P.ink veteran this year. Pat was originally paired with the amazing Shannon Purvis Barron, an original P.ink artist from Indigo Rose Studio in Columbia South Carolina, but due to the tragic flooding there, Shannon was sadly unable to make the trip this year. Another of our veteran Boulder artists, Melora Coyle, from The Raw Canvas in Grand Junction is stepping up, in true P.ink fashion, and making herself available on Friday, the day before the Boulder event, to give Pat her healing tattoo. Rising Tide Tattoo, our sponsor tattoo studio, is graciously accommodating this pair, as is our wonderful photographer, Heidi Wagner. This will allow Pat to participate in the rest of the event activities and not have to wait a year for her healing tattoo and P.ink Day experience.
Pat's story follows:
Hi my name is Pat Eells i am 52 years young and am coming up on 3 years as a SURVIVOR. In 2012, I developed some discomfort between my breasts, and over the next few months noticed a change in size between the two sides as well. I had my annual mammogram and they performed an ultra sound on the left. Even with those symptoms, I was told "All is well - we'll see you next year." But I knew something was not right, and a year earlier I was told I was a candidate for an MRI mammogram and went through all the tests that determined that I was at a 30% higher risk for breast cancer. So I was pretty determined to have them do a MRI mammogram - and they agreed. Early November 2012 they said they found something and that is when my journey through the maze began. A week later I had the first of several biopsies; I get a call early one morning from my gynecologist who said, "Pat You have IDC breast cancer" What is IDC? Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I was not shocked as I already suspected; "Ok what is next?" was all I asked. Other biopsies were performed and 3 more areas of non invasive cancer were identified. As most breast cancer survivors know things start moving really fast. Due to the numbers, the decision was made for me; a mastectomy. No decision to make - for me a double it was. Meeting doctors for the first time and having to make decisions as to are they the best one for me (hard). My biggest struggle was whether to reconstruct or not; thinking I was bein vain. Then my friend Tiffany (a ten year survivor) said the most wonderful thing to me "Who cares what others think, you do what is the best thing for you". Six weeks later surgery and expanders (boy do those hurt). Never really scared or any doubt that I would get through this. I am now coming up on 3 years, 3 plastic surgeons and a 7th surgery. I never did chemotherapy or radiation and for that I am truly thankful. This is not a group I ever wanted to be a part of. However, through this I have met many amazing people one being my BFF Karen Richards, who I had the complete honor of being with as her BFF last year when she received her healing tattoo. My support system has consisted of my friends (both Survivors and not), my Husband of 17 years and the best form of therapy has been my Motorcycle.
From day one I knew I would never do nipple reconstruction and at one point thought about a 3D nipple tattoo because as women we think we need to be made to look like what we did before (NOT). I have several other tattoos and love the beauty of them. Today I look in the mirror and I see lines where my Areolas used to be and to me this is my new norm and I am ok with this. I have decided to never get anything that represents what I lost. That was then this is now and I want to look in the mirror and see something other than a blank canvas I want to see a beautiful piece of artwork. Since I can only do one side on this amazing day I have chosen something organic floral/plant and will work with my amazing artist Shannon Barron from Indigo Rose Tattoo Studio on something unique and beautiful and look to work with her in a year to do something on the other side; maybe something to do with the sea and the fact that I am a Scuba Diver (Land and Sea)
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