Hello friends, old & new!

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Who Am I & Why Am I Here: My name is Stephanie Fields. I live in San Francisco, the most beautiful and yet most expensive city on this green Earth. Just about 20 years ago, back in my native state of North Carolina, I lost around 80 lbs through changing my diet, my movement, and my lifestyle. I started with running 1 lap around an 8-lap track; I walked the other 7. And, except for a few pounds here and there, I've successfully kept the weight off. And although I fully support weight loss surgery and the use of weight loss drugs, I did it on my own. This was pre-social media and mainly pre-internet (bless you SELF Magazine for teaching me about super foods). It was the hardest physical thing I've done to date; and it continues to be; it is a life-long second-by-second commitment to not eat frozen Snickers bars and vending machine cheeseburgers for every meal.

Although the weight is long gone, the loose skin persists. It is a heavy burden, both literally and figuratively. I want it gone. I want to reclaim my body from those who took it from me starting at a very young age. More on that below. Health insurance will not cover these surgeries. They consider them elective. Believe me, I have tried to have them covered. If I had gone the gastric bypass surgery route, these surgeries would be covered. Yes, that is maddening, but I won't be deterred.

What Is My Goal: I am fundraising for approximately 50% of what I will need to pay for all of the surgeries I'd like to have over the next 3-5 years: tummy, breasts, arms, neck, and thighs. My priority is on getting my tummy and breasts done first as they cause the most amount of physical and emotional pain. I look at myself in the mirror multiple times a day and while I do love myself and my body, I do not recognize it. My naked body looks more like an 80-year-old than the 43-year-old woman I am. I am a life-long singer, dancer, performer, and this loose skin has held me back in so many ways - mainly, I've let it hold me back.

This money will cover the costs of the first two surgeries plus all of the additional costs that come with a surgery of this magnitude, including loss of income. I have a genetic connective tissue disorder called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or hEDS. This means I will require twice the amount of stitches and twice the amount of healing time; we also metabolize anesthesia quicker, meaning the anesthesiologist will need to stay close by. To be totally medically safe, I plan to have a nurse with me for the first few days to monitor wound healing. I will be discharged from the hospital on the day of the surgery, and I don't feel safe asking my partner or friends to care for me; this is a time when I need a medical professional. Also...turns out I will need all new clothes.

Why Was I Fat? I get it. You're probably thinking - you're an adult, you got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out. I was an obese child. The first time someone called me fat I was in kindergarten. But the reason I was fat is that I was in a chaotic, unsafe, and incredibly abusive home. I was abused, and everyone around me was abused. My body and soul were available for plunder as early as I can remember; my literal earliest memory is trying to run away from home on my tricycle. I ate like a drug addict. I ate to cope. I ate to fill the hole that my abusive childhood left. If you're familiar with the ACE test, my score is a 7, yikes. You're not so surprised about the headshot now, are you? :)

Thank you in advance for donating, or asking someone else to donate. The only thing you're getting out of this is to feel good. There are no perks, no paybacks, no gold stars. You're literally going to be on the team of people to help me undo my trauma and reclaim my body. It took a village to turn a blind eye, and now I need a village to turn towards me and lift me up.

With all the love in my less fat, loose-skinned heart,

Stephanie Fields

2025