 International Women’s Day | March 8, 2025
As many are celebrating International Women’s Day today, I want to acknowledge some amazing women who have lifted me up while I’ve been hunkered down: First and foremost, my Mom – I noted in my cancer update all she’s done over the past week to help support us, but she also kept my sweet mother-in-law, Liz, updated while I was in the hospital. We called her together and had a nice chat, as it had been about a month since she had heard my voice while only getting updates from Mike. How often do you get to experience your parents taking such great care of you in your time of need as a forty-something adult? I feel so fortunate to have both of my parents with me and available for chats and to help when we need it. I relished the experience, and we had a lovely visit despite the circumstances. She even took a few outfits home that need zippers installed, so her seamstress magic will be put to work. Soon I’ll be able to strut my stuff at networking events in cute jumpsuits that are much easier to get in and out of. Thanks, Mom! 😉 Eva Harris and Ginny Ball of KEVA + Created By – My best clients/teammates who have provided a wonderfully flexible working environment for me from the start, only made more important this past month. Retail is hard, y’all, and it never sleeps. They have continued to grow our team, provided me with support, and given me the space and grace I need to heal. I cannot wait to get back to hosting events that showcase our amazing community organizations and artists. See below for an upcoming event you can enjoy with me. Future studio events linked here. Kim Harris & Emily Oyan – My two besties who have been covering ALL THE SLACK! Emily was behind us setting up the meal train, which has been a lifesaver this past month. We also received a huge amount of support via Door Dash gift cards through this website, and that has continued to help us get through the busy weeks when we simply don’t know what to cook, how to balance the timing between work and sports, and/or can’t imagine washing one more dish (I’m still on “light duty” and can’t help much). These two have brought us delicious food and transported Sophia all over town when she needed a ride, or a fun place to crash for the evening. Being with close friends who love her has meant so much to Sophia and me. The fact that I have these two moms to lean on and provide this kind of comfort and support has been a true saving grace. Meg Eastman and the Midlothian Service Unit of Girl Scouts – Meg heads up the Midlothian Service Unit made up of all the Girl Scout troops in our area. She’s also a track/cross country mom, and a photographer by trade. She sends me photos and videos of Sophia’s meets when I can’t be there. Missing my baby cross the finish line at her first track meet this week really got to me, but Meg captured it for me and loudly cheered her on! She also took the time to honor my breast cancer journey at a recent Girl Scout Thinking Day event. She created pamphlets that highlighted The Pink Chair Project (the organization that donated a recliner to me for my recovery) and took up a donation in my name. She also created “SWAPS” with pink ribbons reminding leaders to schedule their mammograms and conduct their self-exams on a regular basis. She then baked delicious zucchini muffins and had all the troop leaders sign a card for me. It’s a testament to how supportive women can be, even when we’re not as involved or present as we used to be with certain circles or organizations. My past efforts with the Service Unit have not been forgotten, and that means so much! Megan Seagram – I was expressing to Mike that I’m at a certain age where my mentors and biggest supporters are mostly younger than me now, and I’m okay with that. Megan and I decided to be accountability buddies at some point last year and have been consistent with sending check-in emails to share goals and to-do’s, big initiatives, and business growth efforts. She is always sending business my way and looking for opportunities to share. She has hired me and believed in my voiceover pursuits from the beginning, and that has meant the world. She’s also an amazing gift giver and has been checking on me constantly, which I’ve loved! Brittany Rice – She’s a hospitality industry colleague and breast cancer warrior who started her journey back in the fall, and we’ve been in constant communication since. She inspired my “open letter to the newly diagnosed” post back in October when I was acknowledging the anniversary of my first surgery and her recent diagnosis. Little did I know that two months later, I would be back in the hot seat needing to lean on her for tips and tricks while planning for a procedure like the one she had just undergone. She’s also the one who encouraged me to set up my wish list on Amazon. That alone was amazing advice because my village purchased everything I requested within a 24-hr. period! The items she recommended have been so helpful and it took a lot of the guesswork out of recovery preparation. I’m so glad we stocked up because I had to start my recovery process all over again this past week. Please send good vibes her way as she continues to heal, heads back to work, and becomes a thriver vs. survivor – continuing to inspire others experiencing what we’ve been through. She’s a gem! Book a meeting in Williamsburg in her honor! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I’m so proud of my village and community of amazing women (and a few good men) who have sent notes of encouragement, business referrals, and networking event invites. I’m so ready to get back out there, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the following events: Wednesday, March 12th - Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon featuring Katherine O’Donnell, CEO of Richmond Region Tourism. I’m looking forward to supporting Katherine and her team while enjoying all the “gentle” hugs and catch ups. It’s been too long! Saturday, March 15th - Channing Gibb Art – Coaster Collection Launch at the KEVA Studio. You may be familiar with Channing’s art from the prints and originals she’s had on display at the KEVA Studio, along with her beautiful greeting cards that double as frameable art – but you haven’t seen anything yet! Now, as an official Created By collaborating artist, we’ve applied her artwork to coasters that are not only beautiful, but useful, too! Choose from her “Bubbly Time” or “So Chic” designs and enjoy double-sided art on microfiber leather. The stitching detail brings each set together along with the convenient branded holder, ensuring authenticity when it comes to each Created By product. I’ll be there from 11-5 pm for shopping hours, and you can meet and greet Channing from 2-5 pm that day. We’ll be raffling off a few coaster sets, too, but you need to be there to win! 1811 Huguenot Road, #304, Midlothian, VA 23113. Look for the green door! The Social Ginger’s 10th Anniversary Party. I’m excited to celebrate this milestone with my friend, Shannon Loy, and her team. It’s not a public invitation, but IYKYK. I hope to see you there! Saturday, March 22nd – Nobody’s Poet (band) at Omega Bar & Grill in Hopewell. Come out and hear Mike and his band mates rock hits from the 80s, 90s and beyond. It’s a bit of a drive, but so worth it for a great night out. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my man on stage, so come help me dance the night away! Downbeat at 8 pm.
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It's complicated... 3/8/2025 Hello! It’s time for another update. I’ve been quiet these past few weeks because a lot has been happening on the home front. This past Wednesday marked my 5th week post-op, and I found myself back in the operating room for a revision procedure. So, let’s back up a bit. My last update was posted at the two-week mark when my recovery was trucking right along. I was still taking pain medication but limiting myself to one a day to help me sleep and get through most of the following day. Week three was a slow roll filled with frequent naps and quite a bit of intermittent swelling. Each doctor’s visit showed visible progress, but there were a few spots we were monitoring along my incision scar line. Week four brought newfound energy and I felt like I had finally turned the corner and could get back to some normal activities. I had completely weaned off the pain meds the weekend prior, allowing me to drive and start picking up my daughter from track practice. Even running a few quick errands was life-giving. Progress, right? Well, by Friday, February 28th, I was faced with a reality check and my path to getting back to normal had hit a major snag. After a morning filled with productive calls, I noticed that my shirt was damp. Upon further investigation, my left incision had leaked through gauze, my sports bra, and my t-shirt, prompting an emergency trip to the plastic surgeon’s office to be examined. I knew it wouldn’t be good news, but I was hopeful it could easily be fixed without a lot of drama. I was told they needed to go back in to see why there was so much fluid around the wound and repair the spot along my incision line. The procedure could be done in the mini operating room housed in the doctor’s office, and I could drive myself to and from because they would use local lidocaine for numbing. Easy peazy, right? Sounds intense, but they were able to schedule it for Wednesday, and I trusted the doc and felt pretty good as I walked out. I sat in the parking lot and called Mike to let him know what was going on. Not five minutes later, while still parked, I received a call from the practice manager. He explained that the plan had changed…and I now needed to report to the hospital instead. I would need a driver, too, because they were putting me under general anesthesia again. I would most likely have another wound drain, and they might have to replace the implant on the side in question. What??? Yep! It’s called a “washout” procedure, and it helps to get rid of any fluid buildup that could be infected (which they did not think I was), check on the bio mesh that created the pocket to hold the implant in place, and the implant itself. The fluid normally recedes into your body on its own, but when it doesn’t, it creates what’s called a seroma. This revision procedure required a lot of trust, because the surgeon needed to open me up to see what was going on and then decide how to fix it. The hospital setting would be safer and provide him with all the tools of the trade to operate and get me help if something went awry. So, we made a pact that if he had to do all of that, he was also going to nip and tuck a bit more to even up the two sides as the left had started to drop a bit. You see, surgeons love to cut, so it’s no big deal for them to tell you that you may need a follow-up procedure in six months or so. No, thank you. Get in, do your thing, and get out. I do not want to keep going under the knife to fix what should’ve been done in the first surgery. So, Wednesday, March 5th, my mom drove me to the hospital at 5:00 am to start this process all over again. Sometimes you simply need your mom, am I right? She had offered to help numerous times, but Mike and our local friends had everything covered, so I rarely needed extra assistance. Well, now that he had started a new job (yay!), and the kids both had activities that were now in full swing, we needed to call in some reserves before he lost his mind! Plus, who else is willing to drive you anywhere at that ungodly hour? She had the unfortunate role of waiting for my procedure to be done, which took longer than expected, as well as a delayed discharge, but by 3:15 pm I was once again groggy from the anesthesia, but alive, awake, and on my way home. It’s important to me that the kids are home as I arrive back from these procedures. I want them to see me walking and climbing the stairs, etc. It helps them to see that I’m okay (in general) and simply need to rest. I took a nice long nap and was able to come back downstairs for dinner that same night. Mom stayed over and got me through Thursday so Mike could go into work. We had a nice breakfast, I took a shower, and she even trimmed my hair. After lunch, she tucked me in, and I took a long nap before Mike and the kids got home. Thanks, Mom! Yesterday I was a complete sloth. I had zero energy to function at any level. But today, I woke up on time for my meds and was motivated to tackle my ever-expanding to-do list. Healing has been like that for me this entire stretch. Each day is more unpredictable than the next, but I roll with whatever my body tells me I need. I do feel like an unfortunate statistic every time I face a complication, though. I’ve had to heal my throat twice now since being intubated is not conducive to being a voiceover artist. I advocated for my lips to be protected with Vaseline this time around because I woke up with a cut on my mouth and shredded skin when they removed the tube and tape after my first surgery. Ouch! Oh, and pro tip – don’t have an expensive health disaster happen to you while you’re in between jobs and insurance carriers. Yep, our previous insurance expired at midnight after my urgent visit to the doctor, putting us onto the COBRA policy for my actual procedure. Not a great financial situation, especially since we weren’t going to have member or policy numbers to share with the hospital until days or weeks after my hospital visit. Mike got it all worked out by Friday afternoon, but we were lucky. I truly empathize with those who cannot afford to pay the COBRA premium while waiting for their new benefits to kick in. No one needs the unnecessary anxiety piled onto an already stressful situation. Personal and professional events keep falling off my calendar because I cannot participate in the ways that I want to show up for my kids and community. We have accepted additional meals, requested more carpool support, and asked for accommodation on the work front. And the help has been beautifully abundant. I’ve even received consulting job referrals from those unsure of my status, but they made the introduction anyway. I am so grateful for those gestures because they give me something to strive for. I know I will break free of this period of stasis soon enough. When I do, I will have opportunities waiting for me. I’ll have more stories to share with you in the coming months, so until then – please keep us in your prayers. Your encouragement gives me the strength to maintain a positive outlook, and I have so much to look forward to! Let's hear it for the caregivers! 2/12/2025 Hello, family & friends! I figured it was time for an update now that I'm two weeks post-op. Overall, the surgery went well. Poor Mike had the agonizing job of waiting all seven hours to be updated on my status in the hospital. The waiting room was completely full when we checked in that morning, and he was the last one in the room that evening, even outlasting most of the staff, which was disconcerting, for sure! My name was the only one on the surgical board - indicating that my procedure was still in progress. He finally got the green light to come back and see me in the recovery area and then on to my private room for the night. This is the biggest medical procedure I've ever faced, including childbirth, and he wasn't going anywhere until I was awake and talking. The hospital stay was not restful at all. There were too many machines clicking and clacking, a blood pressure cuff left on to inflate on a schedule, and leg circulation booties strapped on to inflate and deflate at a rate that made it impossible to sleep. The docs and nurses were great, so I really couldn't complain, as I knew I would be headed home the following day. Check out was a bit delayed, but by late afternoon on Thursday I was buckled up with my fancy mastectomy pillow and seat belt protector and headed home. I'm up and walking around the house now, been to a few follow-up appointments, but that's about it. Pain management has been the biggest challenge as I didn't want to take any of the hard stuff. I ended up opting for something a little less addictive, but I've been rationing it and using OTC pain meds in between. It's not really cutting it, and I'm not sure why I'm doing this to myself, but I've never been down for the count this long, and I'm ready to get back to the real world and don't want to feel groggy or altered all the time. I have another follow-up appointment this Friday, so we'll discuss everything then. The biggest takeaway from the pathology report was that there was an area on the left side (my good side) that was non-invasive and benign but that could develop into something years from now. I can't imagine going through all of this again years down the line, so hopefully we stopped it in its tracks by scooping out all the tissue on both sides and rebuilding from there. It's never guaranteed, but I'm hopeful this is it. I will opt for GYN surgery this fall to remove the estrogen factories that continue to cause trouble, so I'm not done with hospitals just yet, but I'm giving myself time in between to rest, heal, and enjoy a "hot mama" summer before I have to recover from something else. I couldn't have made it this far without the loving care of my husband, Mike. I don't know where he finds the strength, but to maintain our entire household, work responsibilities, the needs of the kids, all while making sure I was fed three meals a day, with medications administered at proper intervals, AND cleaning my surgical drains because it made me nauseous - he is a saint. The drains were removed on Friday, which feels a lot better and alleviates one caregiving task from Mike's to-do list. We keep reminding the kids that this is the part of marriage that a lot of people don't talk about. The "in sickness and in health" part of the vows we recited on the altar almost twenty-one years ago. We've been through so much over the years, and I would choose him to do life with time and time again. Forever my Valentine. He's an amazing nurse! He had a wonderful role model in his own mom who is a retired RN. Our parents have been checking on us constantly, amid their own health issues and procedures. Everyone is on the right track and recovering together at this point. I truly appreciate every card, text, DM, gift, and meal. We have felt so spoiled with the outpouring of support. It has really made a difference for Mike, too. Door Dashing food to our house vs. him having to cook or pick something up, allowed him to stay home and be present for anything I needed, especially while the kids were in school. He set up an Echo Dot in our room so I could use voice commands when I needed something vs. reaching for my phone to text him. It's funny how heavy things become when you don't have full use of your arms, and it hurts to reach. When the kids are home, they are extremely helpful in fetching things for me, doing laundry, and stepping up so Mike can focus on me. I'm getting stronger every day, but I have to follow doctor's orders and take it slow for now. That might be the hardest part. My brain wants to go-go-go, but my doctor and body are telling me to simmer down! As the image portrays - I feel pretty broken most days, especially when facing the reality of my new scars. I am coming to terms with how much healthier I'll be once I'm healed. I do like the size I ended up with, so I've been trying to imagine what I'll look like in cute outfits vs. pajamas (which has become my uniform as of late). It's all part of the process. I invite your prayers as I continue to manage wound care and do my best to avoid the seasonal illnesses that are plaguing everyone around us. It hurts to cough and sneeze, so I truly need to avoid catching anything serious right now. Lord, please! If you're healthy and looking for something fun to do this Friday night (Valentine's Day), Mike and his band mates in Nobody's Poet, have a gig at JJ's Grille off Staples Mill Rd. Check them out and give Mike a big hug or "atta boy" if you see him. He has been able to pour himself into his music as a means of stress relief, and we're so very grateful that he has this outlet to enjoy with friends! Thank you for everything! It has truly meant the world to us. Linné (Image credit to the original artist.) Mike's perspective while waiting... 1/29/2025 (Mike Diiorio) For those of you keeping score at home, here’s the drill for the day. Linné was rolled into surgery just before noon and we are looking at 7 (SEVEN) hours of procedures between 2 surgeons. I will probably not know a lot for long stretches of time, so, please do not freak out by the radio silence. I’ll share what I can when I get more info, but it will be a while. For now, pray and send happy thoughts and vibes into the Ethos. UPDATES Thu 1/30 3:50 PM - Home, safe and sound, tucked into bed. Now, sleep. 11:15 AM - Waiting for rounds to determine discharge from the hospital. She is in and out of sleep as the side effects of the surgical meds are wearing off, but we expect to head home this afternoon. Wed 1/29 8:33 PM - She is fast asleep in her room as I hold her hand. Let the healing commence. Good night friends. 6:52 PM - The surgeries are complete and she is headed into recovery. I spoke with the surgeon and he is very happy with the outcome and feels she will have an excellent prognosis and recovery. Keep the good vibes coming. Not sure I can recommend the text alert system for patient monitoring as I think I aged 10 years today alone being reminded every hour on the hour for 6+ hours that “the patient is still in surgery”. 6:10 PM - Still in surgery folks. She is the only active OR at the moment and has outlasted shift changes in every department including the cafeteria and even the Subway. At this moment, I have the entire waiting room (which was slammed when we got her) to myself. 2:35 PM - Cancer surgeon completed surgery #1, the cancer is gone and all tissue removed is headed to the lab. Linné is doing well with anesthesia thus far and headed into surgery #2. The Pink Chair Project RVA 1/29/2025 Good morning, fam! I want to sincerely thank everyone for all of the prayers, support, and gifts! I feel so ready for today because all of you have my back. I also want to highlight a wonderful organization that Mike King and Anna Sothen introduced me to. Pink Chair Project RVA, led by Linda Caruthers, delivered this awesome electric recliner to me yesterday. It will assist me in sleeping comfortably and can lift me to my feet without the use of my arms. It even has a lumbar heating pad feature that feels like a warm hug. Linda (who happens to be my neighbor!), arrived with a lovely gift bag filled with comfort items from a variety of volunteers and breast cancer organizations. I will definitely be paying this forward, and I’m filled with gratitude for my network and community. I also want to thank Ginny Lee Ball and Eva Harris for supporting my journey with flexible work and new opportunities. #kevagals4life. Eva even delivered a fresh pan of dumplings last night to kick off our meal train of comfort food. This cancer has met its match. Healthy body loading in a few short hours...Stay tuned! ~Linné So Grateful!1/21/2025 You guys! I can’t fully express my gratitude for the outpouring of love and support you’ve shown me. Within 24 hours, the entire wish list/registry has been fulfilled, and there are only a few dates left on the meal train, but we’ve received so many generous gift cards that we’re totally covered. I’ve only cried twice during this entire ordeal. Once with Mike after the doctor confirmed that the cancer was back, and tonight when Mike checked the registry to see what needed to be purchased and it was already covered. We actually cried together when we realized what had happened. Packages started arriving today, which definitely perked me up. Asking for help is hard, and I didn’t reach out much in 2020 due to the pandemic and wanting everyone to stay safe. This time around, I was anxious about asking, but my village from twenty years ago to now has shown up in ways I never could have imagined. I love you all and will have plenty of recovery time to get thank you notes written. You’ve shown my kids what it means to be a part of a community. It’s not only about running into friends and catching up in the aisles of Target…followed by two more friendly encounters at Panera when we stopped for dinner. It’s about showing kindness, offering encouragement, and fulfilling needs when people ask for help. You all are the heroes in my story, and I feel so very blessed and ready to take this on. I will be paying this forward for the rest of my days. Health Update - January 20th Update as of January 20th:
A group of awesome friends, led by Emily Oyan, has organized a Meal Train website for us to help Mike manage meals and provide some ease and normalcy for the kids. Here's the link if you'd like to drop something off or send an e-gift card. There's a calendar of days where Mike thinks a meal would be great to have on hand. Meal Train for The Diiorio Family My recovery requires a lot of additional accessories that I didn't need the first time around, so through the guidance of a sweet friend, and recent survivor, I've created an Amazon Wishlist/Registry if you'd like to support me in this way. Thank you! More updates to come when I have more to share. Thank you for following along! ~Linné (This photo serves as inspiration for getting through this. I honestly want to relax on a beach and watch the waves roll in when this is all said and done!) Nodules & Nodes... 1/8/25
As promised - here's an update on what's been going on with my breast cancer treatment planning and screenings. I've listed everything out so you can follow along chronologically. The photo is of an amazing tacky lit tree I drove past in a nearby neighborhood last month. It reminds me of the chaos that ensued once I heard the words "we did find cancer" again, all while trying to create birthday and holiday magic for my kids. Based on my CT results, this tree also resembles what my insides must look like when the IV contrast lights up with magnetic resonance and gamma rays. ;)
I'll post again when I know more. Thank you for your support and well wishes. I read every note on FB/IG and LinkedIn. It means the world to me to have such a huge community behind me in this fight! ~Linné |
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