Hi! My name is Melissa. I’m 31 years old. Single mom of a 10 year old boy and here’s my story.

3 years ago, I had an abnormal pap where level 1 precancerous cells were found in one spot. The doctor didn’t see it fit to do anything about it, just said to get my screenings done annually. I’d requested a partial hysterectomy but was told no due to my age at the time and only having one child.

02/26/2025 @ 8am had annual pap

03/12/2025 @ 8:30am went to get results of pap and book appointment for colposcopy

03/28/2025 @ 11:30am colposcopy was done

04/01/2025 results were in but Dr was unavailable and had to reschedule my appointment due to being out so didn’t receive them

04/18/2025 @ 12:30pm finally went in to receive results

Now, I still have one child and I have developed two new spots with a level 1, level 2, and the then level 1 spot is now a level 3 precancerous spot. It’s progressing and growing. I was offered two options: a LEEP procedure where they cut the spots out but I will be high risk for the spots to return and become active cancer, OR a partial hysterectomy where the chances of cancer are slim. I chose the one that will prevent future possibilities. The partial hysterectomy can save my life. With how it’s progressing this a more permanent fix rather than a temporary solution. My dr would prefer I get the procedure done asap, but as it stands I cannot afford to until November to have time to save. With that, there’s always the chance my level 3 pre cancer cells will develop into active cancer the longer I wait. The surgery will consist of the partial hysterectomy (if she doesn’t see any precancerous cells on my ovaries as well), an ablation to my vaginal canal to burn any precancerous cells there may or may not be, and take a biopsy of my labia to test for external cancer.

Insurance was paying doctor bills up until my new doctor found the precancerous cells. They are now claiming I have multiple insurances and refuse to pay, when I only have Peach State coverage because I can’t afford private coverage. I’m a single mom raising my son on my own who lives paycheck to paycheck. I need to have this surgery done to prevent the precancerous cells from coming back and so I can continue to raise my little boy. The proceeds will go towards surgical, hospital, recovery and post check ups costs. I will not be able to work until I’m mostly healed due to the fact my job as a nail technician. I will not be able to sit or lean over for long which is all I do at work. I don’t want to cause any complications or issues during the healing process. It will take 4-6 weeks to recover depending on how my body heals. (I’ve never had surgery before so I don’t know how it will heal). I have only scheduled off work for 2-1/2 weeks for recovery.

Even if it’s just a dollar, I appreciate it all. If you can help, thank you! If you can’t, please pray for me and my family through this. Anything helps. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I won’t allow cancer to beat me!

UPDATE: April 21st @ 12:13pm. Returned phone call from my surgical coordinator, she was verifying surgery time. I asked to move it up to beginning of June from November bc I was scared and didn’t want to become cancerous in the time between now and November, she agreed that this was the best plan and scheduled the surgery for June 17th and pcp preop for June 2nd. Both my Dr/surgeon & surgical coordinator agreed with the surgery being moved up. They didn’t have anything closer to the beginning of June so they gave me what they had available at their earliest time.

UPDATE: April 24th @ 2:09pm. Still fighting with the insurance. Called 5 different numbers yesterday to fix the issue. Everyone was sending me to someone else. Was told it would be around 2 weeks till it is determined if my insurance issue will be fixed (they put in a “request” to have the issue fixed), then another 2 weeks after that for them to decide if they will approve to pay for my surgery or not.

UPDATE: April 30th @ 7:17pm. Still no word on if insurance will help.

UPDATE: May7th @ 7:30pm. Got a call from Dr office today. Just confirming my appointments for surgery and pre-op. Was informed if insurance doesn’t pay there is a secondary insurance but it will only cover me if the cells become active cancer. That terrifies me that that’s my only secondary option. Shed a lot of tears today. Just hoping and praying this fight ends and something positive happens that doesn’t involve me waiting till I have active cancer for insurance to help. I feel like that would cost more than just preventative surgery and extremely exhausting. A lot more scary for sure. Please please pray for good news. Anything better than this.

UPDATE: May 30th @ 1:54pm: Dr office called. Rescheduled pre-op to Thursday, June 12th. Dr won’t be in office for original appointment Monday June 2nd.

UPDATE: June 2nd: Got letter today from insurance. Was basically stating they were informed that I am having the surgery and that I am eligible for it, but that it does not mean they will pay for it.

UPDATE: June 9th @ 4:17pm - Dr.Office called to cancel my pre op yet again and reschedule from 10:30am June 12th to 4pm June 12th, leaving only 2 days available for the hospital to have time to do pre op for the surgical team. I had to move my own work appointments around to be able to fit this in as I prefer morning Dr appointments to start the day so I can work fluidly throughout the day. Said if I don’t do the 4pm appointment they don’t have anything available any other time so they will cancel my surgery and figure out a different day for it, as if I didnt just spend MONTHS planning my schedule and life around this surgery. People have taken off work for this surgery to help me and my baby boy during and after surgery. But they make it out to be MY fault due to their terrible time management. There’s zero care about time management at all. Zero care about how important my time is. Zero care about how important the surgical teams time is. If it’s my Dr/surgeon making these changes then she is screwing herself with her own scheduled surgery for me that she encouraged to have as early as possible. I’m starting to feel like absolutely no one in the healthcare system gives a damn about me, my time, or my health. I just want to live for my son. And they have more than shown how little they care about my life. They literally hold my life in their hands and they just don’t give a damn. They’ve made that very clear. They’re playing with my life, my finances and my time with absolutely zero care in the world.

UPDATE: June 10th @ 10:12am: Preop with hospital was scheduled for Friday @ 1pm

UPDATE: June 11th @ 2:30pm: Was supposed to be at the Dr office for preop at 3:30, but I came earlier to get it done sooner. Ended up getting in on time. Was quick. Just paperwork.

UPDATE: June 12th @ 12:14pm: Got to the surgical preop 45 minutes early. Was told this one would take forever. Only took like 20 minutes. Paperwork. Weight. Blood pressure. Oxygen levels. Blood drawing. Was told outside of the precancerous cells I’m very healthy. So that’s a plus! I really liked my lady who drew my blood. She was quick and efficient. Asked her to be apart of my surgical team Tuesday for surgery. Apparently that’s a possibility and I can request her. Gonna do that. She’s a pretty cool vampire.