I started in the wellness program after my second breast cancer surgery at Lourdes Guthrie. After the surgery, I was dealing with lymphedema and really bad cording in my left arm. When I first met Michelle, my wellness trainer, I couldn’t even lift my arm above my shoulder. Losing that range of motion was incredibly frustrating, especially since I had always been such an active person.
The condition I was in after surgery affected me physically and emotionally. I couldn’t do the things I loved anymore — yoga, gardening, or even projects around the house. I basically stopped using my left arm because the pain was so intense whenever I tried to do anything.
After my first evaluation, Michelle focused on what I could do instead of what I couldn’t. She encouraged me and made me feel strong and capable. Together, we decided water therapy would be a great way to help me regain movement in my arm. She also made resistance and weight training a priority in the therapy pool since I had started taking an aromatase inhibitor to reduce estrogen in my body.
Michelle explained how important resistance training is for helping prevent bone loss that can occur with estrogen blockers. She created a workout plan that felt manageable but still pushed me to keep improving during each wellness session. She really believed in my progress and constantly reminded me to trust the process.
Her compassion, knowledge, and dedication made such a huge difference in my recovery. Within six weeks, my range of motion had improved so much. I could lift my arm above my shoulder again, and the cording and pain were finally easing. By the end of my first wellness program, I was doing physical things I hadn’t been able to do in a very long time.
As Michelle helped me rebuild my physical strength, my emotional health began to improve as well. I’m so grateful to the Center’s Wellness Program for giving patients like me the chance to regain strength and confidence after illness.
Most of all, I want to thank Michelle for her patience, support, knowledge, and encouragement every step of the way. She truly changed my life. She showed me how strong I really am, even with my diagnosis, and reminded me that with hard work, determination, and support, both physical and emotional growth are possible.