How Natalia Got Her Boobs Back
Donation protected
My name is Natalia. I'm 31. I am fighting triple negative breast cancer and need your help.
MY STORY
When my mother found out she was pregnant with me, without telling anyone, she made an appointment to have an abortion. One week before the appointment, she accompanied her sister to a psychic. My mother sat in the waiting room as my aunt cast spells on some unknowing lover. Suddenly, the psychic came out of the room, walked straight over to my mother and said, "I know what you are thinking. Don't do it." When I grew up and heard this story, I wanted to thank the psychic for saving my life, but apparently he had been murdered (cue mysterious musical sting). Like a character in a 1980s romantic comedy, I vowed to live a meaningful life worthy of this psychic's good deed.
My thirty-one years on this planet have been filled with my share of grief: The awkward and ulrelenting years in Jr. High, The murder of my 18 year-old cousin, my friend Kevin dying of cancer at 27, my parents divorce, gut-wrenching breakups, and most recently being laid-off from my dream job at DreamWorks TV.
Despite an all you can eat buffet of bad news, I remained positive, and can say with a full heart, I've had a damn good life. Plus I figured the remaining two-thirds would be easy, breezy, beautiful Cover Girl. A life that resembled a low-impact hiking trail at Runyon, where Youtube celebrities go to post fitness #selfies, but no one expects to get a real workout.
Then, in April of this year, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer - the cherry atop an already fucked-up sundae.
The last four months have been filled with a series of cancer adventures that included: freezing my off-brand PuertoGreekan eggs for later use, having a break-down in the middle of Riverside Drive, losing my hair, sitting through 8 rounds of chemotherapy surrounded by an entourage of kind souls, a full-body heat rash, considering veganism and yoga as a "lifestyle" (who am I??), indulging in the wonder that is having handicapped parking (perhaps cancer's greatest gift), lots of crying on the 405 (partly because of Cancer and partly because it's the 405), harrasing my nurses with Snapchat, being offered sex because I looked like a "bald, sexy shaman," learning to be vulnerable, discovering my strength, and experiencing the true capacity of human kindness.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?
In the last couple of weeks, we discovered chemo isn't working and I need to move into the surgery phase of my treatment. I’ve elected to have a bi-lateral double-masectomy and reconstruction. This is scheduled for August 28th at St. John's in Santa Monica under the skilled hands of Dr. Kristi Funk and Dr. Jay Orringer - better known as the hands that re-built Angelina Jolie in 2013.
My insurance has covered most of my medical bills thus far, however the choice to go with Dr. Orringer is considered "Out-Of-Network" and means I will have to go out of pocket for some of the costs. Why did I choose Orringer and not some rando plastic surgeon? Because he’s an artist and highly respected in his field. He and Dr. Funk work closely together. He is a man who is constantly learning and perfecting his craft. A man who speaks to you in a way that is kind and reassuring like Robin Williams in Patch Adams. And after meeting with several surgeons, I couldn't imagine facing the next leg of this journey without him. As a 31 year-old woman, with breast cancer, this is not just a rando boob job. Dr. Orringer will have to reconstruct two breasts from nothing and like anything in life (strippers, tattoos, medical care), you get what you pay for.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
1. Your text messages, phone calls, emails, and rides to the doctors have shown me a love that makes Nicholas Sparks look like an asshole. Keep that going, it helps so much to hear from you on a daily basis.
2. Sharing this post with family, friends and co-workers.
3. Donating as much as you can to help.
HOW WILL YOUR DONATIONS BE USED?
The money will go towards covering my next three procedures:
1. Initial bilateral tissue expander breast reconstruction.
2. Bilateral tissue expanders removal, and silicone implant replacement with skin graft.
3. Nipple reconstruction.
In addition to being a pivotal member in this fight, you will also get visiting rights. After all, mis tetas es sus tetas.
As well as this t-shirt (while supplies last):
LASTLY
After lots of ugly crying to piano covers of Sia songs, I have made the choice to beat this . I didn't survive an almost-abortion to not experience the next thirty-one years of life's fucked-up, random and beautiful adventures. I want to see all 26 of my frozen eggs grow-up to be upstanding citizens. I want to get more tattoos and spend time with my friends. I want to watch Netflix and chill, and get worked-up over mundane things like the copy-machine being out of paper. I want to help other young women with this fucked up disease, I want to fall in love - and then fall out of love so I can post passive-aggressive quote memes on Instagram. I want to get into a water-gun fight in a hot air balloon (Is that a thing? Because it should be.) But most importantly, I refuse to let cancer be the thing that breaks my spirit.
Thank you for helping me fight.
xo
N
MY STORY
When my mother found out she was pregnant with me, without telling anyone, she made an appointment to have an abortion. One week before the appointment, she accompanied her sister to a psychic. My mother sat in the waiting room as my aunt cast spells on some unknowing lover. Suddenly, the psychic came out of the room, walked straight over to my mother and said, "I know what you are thinking. Don't do it." When I grew up and heard this story, I wanted to thank the psychic for saving my life, but apparently he had been murdered (cue mysterious musical sting). Like a character in a 1980s romantic comedy, I vowed to live a meaningful life worthy of this psychic's good deed.
My thirty-one years on this planet have been filled with my share of grief: The awkward and ulrelenting years in Jr. High, The murder of my 18 year-old cousin, my friend Kevin dying of cancer at 27, my parents divorce, gut-wrenching breakups, and most recently being laid-off from my dream job at DreamWorks TV.
Despite an all you can eat buffet of bad news, I remained positive, and can say with a full heart, I've had a damn good life. Plus I figured the remaining two-thirds would be easy, breezy, beautiful Cover Girl. A life that resembled a low-impact hiking trail at Runyon, where Youtube celebrities go to post fitness #selfies, but no one expects to get a real workout.
Then, in April of this year, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer - the cherry atop an already fucked-up sundae.
The last four months have been filled with a series of cancer adventures that included: freezing my off-brand PuertoGreekan eggs for later use, having a break-down in the middle of Riverside Drive, losing my hair, sitting through 8 rounds of chemotherapy surrounded by an entourage of kind souls, a full-body heat rash, considering veganism and yoga as a "lifestyle" (who am I??), indulging in the wonder that is having handicapped parking (perhaps cancer's greatest gift), lots of crying on the 405 (partly because of Cancer and partly because it's the 405), harrasing my nurses with Snapchat, being offered sex because I looked like a "bald, sexy shaman," learning to be vulnerable, discovering my strength, and experiencing the true capacity of human kindness.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?
In the last couple of weeks, we discovered chemo isn't working and I need to move into the surgery phase of my treatment. I’ve elected to have a bi-lateral double-masectomy and reconstruction. This is scheduled for August 28th at St. John's in Santa Monica under the skilled hands of Dr. Kristi Funk and Dr. Jay Orringer - better known as the hands that re-built Angelina Jolie in 2013.
My insurance has covered most of my medical bills thus far, however the choice to go with Dr. Orringer is considered "Out-Of-Network" and means I will have to go out of pocket for some of the costs. Why did I choose Orringer and not some rando plastic surgeon? Because he’s an artist and highly respected in his field. He and Dr. Funk work closely together. He is a man who is constantly learning and perfecting his craft. A man who speaks to you in a way that is kind and reassuring like Robin Williams in Patch Adams. And after meeting with several surgeons, I couldn't imagine facing the next leg of this journey without him. As a 31 year-old woman, with breast cancer, this is not just a rando boob job. Dr. Orringer will have to reconstruct two breasts from nothing and like anything in life (strippers, tattoos, medical care), you get what you pay for.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
1. Your text messages, phone calls, emails, and rides to the doctors have shown me a love that makes Nicholas Sparks look like an asshole. Keep that going, it helps so much to hear from you on a daily basis.
2. Sharing this post with family, friends and co-workers.
3. Donating as much as you can to help.
HOW WILL YOUR DONATIONS BE USED?
The money will go towards covering my next three procedures:
1. Initial bilateral tissue expander breast reconstruction.
2. Bilateral tissue expanders removal, and silicone implant replacement with skin graft.
3. Nipple reconstruction.
In addition to being a pivotal member in this fight, you will also get visiting rights. After all, mis tetas es sus tetas.
As well as this t-shirt (while supplies last):
LASTLY
After lots of ugly crying to piano covers of Sia songs, I have made the choice to beat this . I didn't survive an almost-abortion to not experience the next thirty-one years of life's fucked-up, random and beautiful adventures. I want to see all 26 of my frozen eggs grow-up to be upstanding citizens. I want to get more tattoos and spend time with my friends. I want to watch Netflix and chill, and get worked-up over mundane things like the copy-machine being out of paper. I want to help other young women with this fucked up disease, I want to fall in love - and then fall out of love so I can post passive-aggressive quote memes on Instagram. I want to get into a water-gun fight in a hot air balloon (Is that a thing? Because it should be.) But most importantly, I refuse to let cancer be the thing that breaks my spirit.
Thank you for helping me fight.
xo
N
Organizer
Natalia Provatas
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
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