Thanks to all that you two have done to make Carri's life richer and fuller. For the first time in her life, she is not embarrassed about her body. Her confidence has soared, and as she says, "I feel so good about myself."

This is a lot of information and more lengthy than I planned, but it is a life-changing experience that I just can't help but share. So, read this when you have time.

A week ago Saturday I returned from another fabulous week in Washington, D. C., assisting with the 59th Annual Horatio Alger Association Awards program and seeing the cherry blossoms. The following day, I accompanied my Step-daughter Carri to New York for surgery to repair a birth defect that was caused by Poland Syndrome. Carri's chest on the right side has been deformed since birth as she has little breast tissue on her right side, while having a significant amount on the left side. She is also missing seven major and minor muscles in the upper right side of her chest and shoulder, including her right major pectoral muscle. Beginning at the age of 14, doctors have tried to remedy the situation through at least five surgeries by placing implants in her chest. The results have never created a normal appearance for her. The lack of tissue and muscle structure have not allowed the implants to be secured properly and there has always been a hollow area above the implants. These implants have been too close to her nerves and their weight uncomfortable, usually causing other problems like numbness and weakness in her arm, pain in her elbow, and restricted motion in her shoulder. One even ruptured within a couple of weeks after being inserted.

Last year, we found out about a relatively new surgery that was developed by Dr. Allen in New Orleans for breast cancer patients that allowed for reconstruction using a woman's own fatty tissue from the stomach or buttocks. Even more recently, Dr. Allen began to use this surgical technique on Poland Syndrome victims. Although we consulted with Dr. Allen's associate, Dr. Levine, last July, Hurricane Katrina wiped out our plans for surgery in November, as well as the Women's Clinic for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction in New Orleans. Dr. Levine has now relocated to New York, and operated on Carri last Tuesday. It was his fourth breast reconstruction in his new location and his first ever for a Poland Syndrome patient.

I couldn't be happier to report that the surgery was extremely successful and that Carri's recovery is going well and ahead of schedule. According to Dr. Levine, the surgery was more extensive and complex than anticipated. Carri was in surgery for seven hours. The implant, thought to be 250 cc. but was actually 335 cc., was removed and replaced with more than 400 cc. of tissue from Carri's stomach. The additional was needed to fill the hollow area in her upper right chest. With an incision from hip to hip across her stomach, the tissue and blood vessels were harvested and inserted into her right breast and chest cavity. The blood vessels were reconnected to those in her chest to keep the tissue alive. This surgery is 99.6% successful, as is the case for Carri.

We returned from New York last evening after Carri's post-surgery visit with Dr. Levine. Both Carri and Dr. Levine could not be happier with the results. Carri is beaming. For the first time in her 41 years, her chest appears normal. The upper chest is smooth and balanced. Her right breast matches her left breast, which was reduced in size several years ago so that only one implant would be needed to approximate its size on the right size. The pain in her elbow and arm are gone. She has experienced no numbing or tingling sensations since the surgery. She has an increased range of motion in her right arm and shoulder. AND, for the first time she can wear tank tops and bathing suits and not worry about covering up her deformed upper chest. She tried on a top with spaghetti straps which I purchased at Macy's for her and was so happy with her appearance.

I realize that this message simplifies a very delicate and complicated surgery, but if you ever have a friend who has to experience breast cancer and/or a mastectomy, please remember to tell her about DIEP-Flap surgery. It is much more satisfactory than implanting a foreign object in a woman's chest to simulate normalcy. The life expectancy of an artificial implant is only five to eight years. Transplanting your own tissue will last a lifetime.

We will return to New York in July, to have the skin flap removed from her lower right breast. It was transplanted from her stomach to her chest with the fat tissue, so that Dr. Levine could monitor the success of the transplant. The blood flow in the vessels was monitored, as was the temperature of the skin flap. All is well. This last step is cosmetic and will leave Carri with only one scar on her chest instead of two. For cancer patients, this is the time when nipple reconstruction is performed. Fortunately for Carri, she will not have to undergo this procedure. We will be staying at the Miracle House, where I stayed this time during Carri's surgery and hospitalization, and where she joined me during her recovery. This is a great place, similar to the Ronald McDonald House concept, and our stay was paid for by Dr. Levine.

We shared our three-bedroom Miracle House apartment with Karen from Fort Worth and her caretakers, first Lynn and then Wendy. Karen had been able to stay there during each of her monthly visits to New York for treatment over the past two years. Karen was recovering from surgery for liver cancer, which was first discovered when she had a volley-ball sized tumor on her liver. No hospitals in Texas would touch her case. Fortunately, her physician husband found out about a doctor in New York who uses new technologies and Karen's tumor was reduced and she was able to have a lobe of her liver removed two weeks ago. Karen is a walking miracle, a "one of a kind" case, as her doctor says. Karen was able to depart yesterday, on the same day that Carri and I did. We are now all friends and were able to share our experiences. Patients can only stay at the Miracle House, www.miraclehouse.com, if they are accompanied by a caretaker.

If you would like any additional information about this surgical procedure, please contact me, or better yet, go to www.diepflap.com . Dr. Heather Erhard assisted Dr. Levine with the surgery and he does the same for her when she is the surgeon. They are a great team.

The insurance saga is another story. To date, Carri's insurance company has refused to pay, saying that they only take care of birth defects at infancy, and that her surgery is cosmetic. As far as we know, we have exhausted the appeal process, even with the help of the insurance commission. BUT, we will keep fighting. As you might imagine, Willie figured out a way to finance this surgery for his daughter. We all agree that it is the best $35,000+ that he ever spent.

P.S. Carri got to see the Empire State Building, walk up 5th Avenue to Central Park, and take a subway ride to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty before we left. This was her first trip to New York and one that she will always remember.

V. Baker