Hi everyone! This isn't something I ever expected to do, but here we go. For the last 4 1/2 years, I have been suffering with uterine fibroids. My situation, though not uncommon in women, is uncommon in a different way. I was first diagnosed with a fibroid in 2019 after having some bad unexplained stomach pain, which caused me to go into the emergency room. I had some imaging come back, and the doctors there advised I visit with my gynecologist. Upon meeting my doctor, she informed me that I had one fibroid that had grown off the side of my uterus. I was given options, all of which had downsides, but was told it was non-emergent. The only option plausible for me was surgery. The other two would have affected my fertility, and at the time, I was a 25-year-old who only knew one thing for sure - that I wanted a family one day. Since fibroids have a tendency to reoccur, my doctor and I decided to wait to have the surgery until we got closer to that time while monitoring the growth of the fibroid.

Fast forward to today, and the last few years of this journey have been difficult, to say the least. I have suffered from fatigue, pain, insomnia, bleeding, and even difficulty using the bathroom. My fibroid continues to grow and has begun to shift and put pressure on my organs. The size alone is has gone from 13.1 x 9.5 x 13.5 cm to 13.6 x 23.8 x 25.8 cm in the last two years. The pain is no longer intermittent; it is daily and has grown along with the fibroid. I was in the hospital for an unrelated issue recently, and when I had a CT scan done, the images revealed my fibroid has taken over my abdomen. My doctor has urged for me to have surgery as soon as possible. The fibroid needs to biopsied to rule out any cancer and try to identify what is causing the abnormal growth of the fibroid. She is adamant that waiting any longer would be detrimental to my health and desire to have a family. The surgery I need is an abdominal myomectomy.

As many of you know, I am a full-time student, and I also work full-time along with my husband. The cost of the surgery, even with our insurance, is not feasible with our income. We cannot cover the entirety of the surgery, the cost of my education, my hospitalization, and maintain our household for the 6 weeks I will need for recovery. I would appreciate any help that anyone could give. This is not an easy thing to have to do, but I would not do it if I did not need help. I love you all. Thank you.