The Path to Recovery Begins (Hopefully)

Here's the latest on Rachelle:

We went to one of the post-op appointments yesterday and they took a few scans of what is left of her right lower jaw bone. They said they did not see anymore infection, but they still wouldn't know for another month or two if the Osteomyelitis had been totally removed.

The doctor said he was happy with the results of the surgery. He stated he opened her mouth up and took the bone all the way down to the nerve. He stated the bone was mushy and he is confident he found the "epi-center" of the Osteomyelitis in her mouth. He said we will not have any confirmation of anything until the cultures come back from her surgery. Either way, Rachelle's doctor wants her to remain on antibiotics and pain medicine until at least September 1st.

If the pain persists beyond that time, and they are unable to find an ongoing infection through various testing in San Antonio, then it could be something wrong with her nerves in that area as a result of all the trauma to her mouth. He stated the nerves could've been nicked during previous surgeries and we would have to go a different direction at that time.

The doctor said that if the infection does come back, then we will have to completely remove the jawbone and replace it with the titanium plate.

We are hopeful that the Osteomyelitis has been removed, but we truly will not know for a couple of months.

Presuming that the infection is gone and she is in the clear, we still have a long ways to go. Rachelle and I will have to fly back to Miami in December so she can have a bone graft on the right side of her face. They will remove bone and bone marrow from her hip to perform the bone graft.

We still have to check in with the doctor a couple more time before we leave, but hopefully we are at the beginning of Rachelle's path to recovery. It's been a long and tumultuous journey, and I know for certain that Rachelle is eager to get back on her feet.

Please keep Rachelle and her family in your thoughts and prayers and share her indiegogo fundraiser page @ http://igg.me/at/rachellebriton/x/3746375

Video Following Surgery

OK there was a video here. I found it that it provided no worth. It was a video that basically showed how drugged up I was in the hospital, right after I had after surgery. The only cool thing was that I was talking right after I woke up from surgery. I did not think that would happen. Anyways, I think the video was more depressing than helpful. I made no sense. I told my husband to film it right after surgery. The video was a big embarrassing blur. I would like it to remain that way in my mind. I didn't want it floating around on the internet. Sometimes it is TMI!

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the support! I wouldn't have been able to have surgery without your support and help. I think God is trying to teach me to be patient, to love more, and to be more empathetic. 

Oh by the way as far as fashion goes it's like the 90's blew up again. My sister doesn't even remember the time of crop tops, body suits, and crazy prints. As fashion forecasting tells us this falls in the correct Zeit Geist because for the past few years the 80's were so popular. It is was just a matter of time. I don't think this trend is going to last as long though..... I seen women in their 40's wearing crop tops and yes some of them look great. But come on even not very many teenagers can pull this off. I like the trend I just think they are little to short. I think it is great for editorials, music videos, concerts. But I don't see the point in recreating Clueless. Nothing can compare to that movie and fashion in the 90's. Come one designers lets rethink the future of fashion.

XOXOX

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

A Glimpse of Rachelle's Trip...

Beauty Does Not Equal Pain. Pain Equals No Beauty.

THIS GIRL:

Today is like most. Unfortunately, I am not feeling well. I have tried everything I think I can possibly to feel better. I am finally giving in. I appreciate that I am going to be to have surgery with a world renowned doctor that has written 8 books. I have been going back and forth should I have surgery with Dr. Marx's? Can my amazing maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Quaroni not do this here in Austin? Should I have it done at MD Anderson in Houston? Should I  go back to the Mayo Clinic for the 3rd time? I have finally allowed myself to understand that going to Miami for 2 weeks and replacing my jaw is the right answer. All the other doctors that do this surgery copy the surgery from Dr. Marx who discovered it. I will have Dr. Quaroni do my 3rd part of this surgery in Austin though, he is amazing. He deals with osteomyelitis just not CSO. He can do the implants when I get through the 2 hard parts in Miami. My mind is going crazy, but I am glad I really do not have a choice to think about it anymore. I need to just accept the fact that it is happening and I am going to be different. I hope that if this surgery changes me it will only be in a good way. In a way that I inspire others, show that I have an abundance of faith, and that I am more compassionate. I am ready to move on. This disease has taken my life and I am ready to take it back. It has torn up my emotional life, taken my passions away from me, take my hair and skin, and I  am done. I am ready to say goodbye to all the medication, pain, and ugliness from this chapter of my life.

FASHION:

CSO and the medications that come with it have taken over my hair, nails, and skin. I was actually diagnosed with about 3 skin problems but I have them under control. I started using olive oil face soap for my face, and I apply a lavender healing oil mixture from Jerusalem to the part of my chin that is infected on the outside. I use baby oil to keep my skin nice, fresh, and moist. I have been taken 1,500 mg of Biotin. This has helped my eyelashes grow in less than 4 weeks. My hair and nails are also reaping benefits from this vitamin. Adrian from Milk and Honey said that I should try it and it totally helped. She also cut my bangs short because I am getting all this new growth of hair and it hides all the weird spots. My hair stylist and colorist Ricky Hodge suggested that we do not color my hair. He said that we should wait until I am better. So the challenge I am having is that I have dirty blonde hair where the new growth is and the old growth is almost bleach blonde from when Ricky last touched it. So I kind of have an ombre look. I have a picture attached of what an ombre looks like. I think he was right when he said to wait for us to highlight it because it would make it weaker. Ricky might make a video about cutting my husbands hair though. My husband Brian is growing his hair out for locks for love and it is so awesome. It is long, thick, and curly. I am lucky to know some of the best people in the beauty and fashion business because of my background! Check out www.rickyhodge.com and www.milkandhoney.com

This is a picture of me and my mom when my hair and skin were nice and healthy (right before I started getting really sick). Oh and yes we are both wearing dresses that I designed : )

Here is Mary Kate Olsen I chose her because some people say I look like her so you can get the best idea. Although in the picture above, I do not look like her at all. Maybe over the 4th of July I will take some pictures of me and I will share them. Basically you can see in the picture above my hair in is all evenly colored from scalp to end. My hair now looks like Mary Kate's darker up top by the scalp and brighter blonde at the end.

PAIN:

All I want to say about pain today is.

Pain.
Pain.
Go Away.
Come Again Another Day.
If I Hollar STAY AWAY!!!