Kimberly Morton
" Unbroken : A Journey of Strength , Survival , and Hope "
I never thought it could happen to me ! After having suspicious lumps in my breast for years , undiagnosed because I was told I was too young and that they were only calcifications or caffeine cysts , I finally got a mammogram — which saw nothing ! After demanding an ultrasound , I finally heard those three little words that have now become my life : You have cancer . With six lumps in my right breast and one in my left , ranging from the size of a pea to the size of a grapefruit , I was diagnosed with stage 2 / 3 DCIS ( Ductal Carcinoma In Situ ), non-invasive breast cancer . Internally , I was in shock , but externally , I cracked jokes and tried my best to stay strong — not only for my family but for myself as well , so that I wouldn ’ t fall apart . I thought , Why cry about something today that will be different tomorrow ? Looking back , ignorance was bliss . I ’ m glad I didn ’ t dive into research and consume myself with it in the beginning . Not only was that something they encouraged us not to do , but it kept me from spiraling into the negative and the “ what-ifs !” As far as I was concerned , this was just going to be a very small part of my life ’ s story . Boy , was I wrong !
In the beginning , everything moved so fast . At 27 years old , I was told that I was going to have to have a bilateral mastectomy . I thought I was one of the lucky ones —" A free boob job ? Sign me up !" Like I said , ignorance is bliss !
The surgery was long — 13 hours — and the recovery was challenging , but it was worth it because I was finally cancer-free ! Or , more accurately , " in remission ." I thought the next step would be a simple breast reconstructive surgery , and I could put this chapter behind me . However , over the next five years , I went through 20-30 reconstructive procedures , with surgeries every 3-6 months . It wasn ’ t because I wanted breasts again ; in fact , I had reached a point where I didn ’ t even care about that anymore . But due to recurring infections , the surgeries were necessary .
The most frustrating part of my journey wasn ’ t just the physical toll of so many surgeries — it was the limitations I faced in accessing the best care due to insurance restrictions and the overwhelming out-of-pocket costs . I couldn ’ t always choose the doctors or specialists I felt were the best fit for my situation . Instead , I had to work within the confines of what my insurance would cover or what I could afford . It ’ s hard to imagine needing that many surgeries for reconstruction , but when your options are limited by financial barriers , it can feel like you ' re fighting an uphill battle .
Despite the challenges , I held onto hope with each procedure , knowing that I was doing everything I could within the system I had to navigate . Every journey is unique , and mine was shaped not just by medical hurdles but by the financial realities that many others face as well .
28 S plash !