Brian: I am glad that you found us. You have received some great advice from the other members. So I will add these thoughts.
....make sure that your mom has some pajamas or gowns that button up the front. She isn't going to be able to raise her arm very high for a week or so. Make sure that they are very soft.
....There is a type of garment that you can purchase that is soft and has a pocket to hold the drains. Most of the stores that handle mastectomy products sell these.
....I found that I slept better in my recliner the first couple of days/nights after I got home. It was just to difficult to lay flat or attempt to push myself up from the bed. My daughter propped pillows behind my shoulder and under my arm.
....Remember that she is going to need help cutting her meat. I know that this sounds silly but it is a difficult task when you just have one arm that you can use.
....Just let her know that you all love her. Keep a positive attitude around her. If she wants to cry, let her. She will have a wide range of emotions that she will have to work thru after her surgery. You might want to contact your local American Cancer Society and talk with them. Ask them about support groups in the area where your mom lives.
Please let us know how your mom's surgery goes and how she is doing. We would love to have her come here and post.
Good luck
Deb