Verdict From YouTube
Dear CourageIsMyStrength:
Thank you for submitting your video appeal to YouTube. After further review, we’ve determined that while your video does not violate our Community Guidelines, it may not be appropriate for a general audience. We have therefore age-restricted your video. This does not negatively impact your account standing.
Sincerely,
— The YouTube Team
I think this is great, I have no trouble whatsoever with the age restriction of my video. As a matter of fact, I would not mind if all of my videos were age restricted. I don’t think it’s appropriate for kids…even my 14 year old son doesn’t want to see my videos, and they aren’t appropriate for kids. Kids don’t need to worry about this kind of awful stuff, they just need to be kids.
But thankfully I’m still online and out there! Thank you for all of the FB postings and private emails, it’s great to know you’re still behind me!! Take care!
Oh, and here is the video that caused all the fuss. And, wow, I just watched it again, and I can’t believe what has happened since that video. I really need to do another one.
Trouble With YouTube
Courage Friends and BFFs! YouTube has disabled one of my videos because someone feels that my video was sexually provocative. I don’t believe it was actually watched by YouTube before being disabled. Please, if my videos have helped you find courage or peace in what you’re going through, please post a note on my home page so that maybe they will allow the video back on YouTube so that hopefully it can help others. Thank you!
I have appealed the decision, but I don’t know what will happen. I hope that it doesn’t then impact my YouTube channel, because most of the women that follow my blog and most of my Breast Friends have found me through YouTube. I really hope this doesn’t get worse, that it gets better and we can keep reaching women.
Here is the link to my YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CourageIsMyStrength
This is not the disabled video, I just posted it because I felt like it. 
What? No more videos??
Hello everyone!
So, many people have been asking why I haven’t released additional videos. Well, I decided that since I’ve had my expanders longer than most people ever will (I’m having to wait since I lost my insurance during my last surgery), it’s not really relevant to anyone what my surgery site looks like now.
I’m scheduled for my next surgery on October 15th. I will be doing a video right before and then right after, so that you can see the difference between the expanders and the initial implant swap, then I’ll pick back up and document my recovery from the implant swap.
In the last few weeks I’ve been through a lot of personal changes. I packed up my car and headed to California to help out where I can with NORRA (the National Off Road Racing Association) and to be close on hand to my team and truck so that we can get ready for our first race.
Jake and Brendan have been working hard to get the truck ready, and things are going along nicely. Betsy, Heather and Kelley are working diligently to spread awareness and gain sponsors for our team so that we can continue to support the women that are facing breast cancer and reconstruction as well as continue to encourage women that are struggling with their future to keep fighting and to find their inner strength.
My family is continuing to support me emotionally from Colorado while I’m here through our race. It’s not always easy, but Skype is a great way to make it a little better. I’m sure Jon felt right at home when he video called me this morning right as I rolled out of bed. The great, or not so great, thing about Skype is you get the full, natural version of your family…messy hair, pillow marks on your face, and pre-coffee moods and all.
My California family has been wonderful. I’m staying with my friends and adopted family, Ashley and Dawn. They have been wonderful, and opened their arms and hearts so that I can keep chasing my dream of Courage. Pam, Mike, and Toni have been great, welcoming me back with big hugs and bigger hearts. I’m so lucky to have them all!
My life continues to be special and challenging and wonderful all in one. I hope you’re surrounded by great friends and family too.
Thanks for keeping up with me! Oh, and actually there will be another video sooner!! We get to test the truck next weekend for the first time, so we’ll make sure to get great footage and keep you excited about our project!
Take care,
Michele
3 Months Post-Op Video
This video has been re-posted more than any of my others, and I think it’s the most important one I have put together. The video “The Story Of Courage” is more emotional for me, but this one is more educational, and the one thing that impacts us the most immediately after mastectomy is how foreign and strange our bodies look and feel. Many women write to me, distraught about how they look after surgery. This video compares 3 weeks to 3 months, and helps show how your body changes while healing.
I did not believe, no matter what my doctors or friends told me, that I would ever look close to normal again. I thought the lumpy clay look would be with me forever. I know other women recovering won’t believe my words either, so I thought I would show you how much changes in 3 months.
Last Expander Fill
My plastic surgeon is a wonderfully kind man, and had a great sense of humor about letting me record my last expansion. Before having expanders I never would have believed this process, and even after it had been explained to me I still didn’t have the full concept of how it all works. I never watched! The first time I saw it for myself was when I edited the video. I’m a chicken.
How To Do A Breast Self Exam
Hello!
I can’t tell you how important it is to do a breast self exam, every month! Early detection of problems can save your life! I had troubles finding online information for myself, so I decided to make a video to help others that might be searching for information too.
This is a walk through of how to do your breast self exam and talks a little about what you might feel while you are examining yourself. You’ll notice I bend forward in the video, but don’t talk about what I’m doing; bending forward helps you see the drape of each breast to make sure you don’t see any indentations or dimpling that could be an indicator of a problem.
I hope this helps, and remember to examine yourselves every month ladies!!
Please forgive the bags under my eyes and my pinched look during the exam, that part of the video was filmed the day before my mastectomies. I wasn’t sleeping well and was pretty stressed out, and boy does it show on my face! Yikes!
Thanks for checking in, and I’m sending you lots of love and happy thoughts!
~Michele
Details About My Surgery
I’m so sorry about the audio, I was speaking softly so that my son wouldn’t overhear and get upset. Please turn your speakers up if needed.
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