TAH/BSO - I'm too young

My first husband and I were married on March 4,1978. Seven weeks later on April 25, 1978 my sweet Jim was killed in an auto accident. A week later I began having severe stomach pains at work. I came home and my mother took me to the emergency room (this was on a Thursday). They told her nothing was wrong with me (I had a 104 fever and was vomiting) and sent me home. The next day, Friday, she took me back to the emergency room and this time they told her I was most likely just reacting to the sudden death of my husband (I was 22 yrs old). She insisted they admit me. They did and scheduled me for exploratory surgery the next day, Saturday. I had a ruptured appendix which had occured on Thursday. At that point I had peritonitis the worse case, according to the doctor, they have ever seen. I came home after a month in the hospital all 85lbs of me. Four years later remarried and trying to have children, I began testing for infertility. My doctor told me after having every test available that I had PIDS, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. I would have to have a complete hysterectomy. I got a second opinion and it was confirmed. The peritonitis I had had in 1978 had caused the infection. I was 26 years old, I wanted a baby not a hysterectomy. After several months I finally decided to have the surgery. I'm now 47 years old and divorced. I realize how different my life would have been had I been able to have children. But I have a good life, a wonderful man who truly loves me. I thought losing my female organs would make me less of a woman. My doctor told me a woman is more than a uterus and ovaries. It's her heart and soul. He was right I have never felt I was less than a woman because of the surgery. He also told me you really can't miss something you've never had. He was right again. I can imagine what it would have been like to have a baby, but since I never have I don't really know. I also don't miss the cramps, bloating, etc. I guess that's one benefit. Anyway, thanks for the great site.