Hi everyone, my name is Frances, and I’m writing on behalf of our dear friend Astrid and her very own personal life, interrupted moment.

As some of you may already know, Astrid just underwent a brain surgery last week to remove a tumor that had been silently growing in her pituitary gland for years. I was with her as she navigated doctor’s appointment after appointment and as always, am in awe of her strength and resilience.

Thankfully, the tumor was benign and not cancerous... but the recovery will now take weeks, if not months... and the medical bill estimates are already overwhelming.

Some friends have asked how they can support her during this time, so I decided to start this GoFundMe. That way, Astrid can hopefully focus on healing without the weight of financial stress.

In Astrid's words: "Over the past year, l've been navigating a health challenge I never imagined. What started as a missed period I dismissed as stress turned into ten months without one, eventually leading to the discovery of a prolactin-secreting tumor on my pituitary gland, the small but powerful part of the brain that controls hormones. Doctors explained the tumor had likely been growing quietly for years, disrupting my hormone levels and triggering symptoms I never connected: chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, irritability, and emotional highs and lows. Elevated prolactin can also suppress reproductive hormones, which explains my missed periods and changing energy levels. For months I tried to manage it with medication meant to shrink the tumor and restore hormonal balance, but the tumor didn't respond. It began pressing against my pituitary gland, nestled between my eyes, and risked damaging my vision and endocrine system. Last week, I underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor. Recovery has been challenging and emotional. Facing a condition that affects both your body and your mind has made me more aware of how deeply hormones shape our well-being, and how easily women's symptoms can be overlooked or attributed to "stress." Sharing this journey feels important - not just personally, but to raise awareness about how pituitary and hormonal disorders often go undiagnosed in women for years. Early detection, advocacy, and self-awareness can change outcomes. This experience has given me new empathy, purpose, and perspective on the delicate balance between health, career, and identity."

Astrid had been freelancing between Philadelphia and New York, but as highlighted in the recent headlines, our industry has faced massive layoffs and restructuring. It’s a tough time in our biz, to say the least. Even if Astrid was able to work right now, she physically can’t.

Astrid isn't sure how much insurance will cover. Freelancers don’t get paid medical leave or disability benefits, and her union health insurance is set to end later this year.

Astrid is one of the kindest humans I know, always lifting others up, even when she is going through her own tough times. As you can see from some of the photos, she raised an incredible daughter Jolie as a single mother, co-parenting while moving her way up the news markets. She stays positive for all of us, even when we are down.

The money raised will go towards her medical expenses & bills during this time. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing the link!

Together, we can hopefully give Astrid some peace of mind while she recovers. Thank you for showing her the love and support she has always shown others.