My name is Andrea, and asking for help is not something I do easily. I have always been deeply independent and self-reliant. But right now, I am facing a serious medical emergency while actively in recovery—and I need support so I can protect my health, my sobriety, and my ability to be present as a mother to my son.

Since March of 2025, I have been in a residential treatment center in Oakland, California, doing the hardest work of my life to rebuild myself and live sober. I began using substances at 13 years old after I suffered a violent sexual assault. My use intensified after the traumatic loss of my mother in May 2021 and turned into addiction. Her passing was devastating, and if she were still here, she would have helped me through this without hesitation. Navigating this moment without her has been incredibly painful.

In late-September 2025, after a severe case of food poisoning that left me violently ill for over six hours, I went to the emergency room. Doctors performed a contrast CT scan and unexpectedly discovered that my right silicone breast implant had ruptured. This was not something I knew was happening—and it is not a cosmetic issue.

I have been living with this rupture for months now. The silicone is leaking into my breast pocket, and if it migrates or clogs my lymphatic system, it can become life-threatening for me. The longer this goes untreated, the greater the risk to my health and my life. This needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

At the same time, I have been unable to work because I am committed to staying in treatment. Leaving rehab prematurely or returning to work under these conditions would seriously endanger my sobriety and my life.

My health must come first—not only for me, but because I am a mother. My son needs me healthy, alive, and stable. Staying sober means staying present for him, and that means taking care of medical issues before they become catastrophic.

Unfortunately, the costs of imaging, surgical removal of the ruptured implant, hospital care, and recovery are far beyond what I can afford while in treatment and without income.

This is incredibly hard for me to write. I don’t ask for help lightly. But right now, I am asking because this support could save my life and allow me to continue my recovery—so I can be the strong, sober mother my child deserves.