The time has come, friends and family — I’m officially entering my bionic woman era!

This February, I’ll be getting hip resurfacing surgery. It's like a hip replacement but less invasive. I’ve been lucky enough to find an incredible doctor here in Berlin who will take good care of me and get me back dancing by summer — or at least that’s the goal.

Now that I have a surgery date, I’m preparing my mind and body for this life-changing moment. I’ve been keeping up with my physical therapy and organizing my post-surgery care with my Berlin homies — I’ll be wishing my mom lived closer to Berlin during these days, but I know my friends will make great nurses :)

Many of you have asked me to keep you updated and if there’s any way to help. Honestly, I went back and forth about creating a GoFundMe because asking for help isn’t easy for me. But after a good talk with my bestie Kristen, I was strongly encouraged to make one.

Since I’m having a specialized surgery with a specialized surgeon, the costs aren’t fully covered by my German public health insurance. I think I’ll be able to handle the main medical costs, but I won’t have much left for post-surgery care while I recover.

That’s where this GoFundMe comes in — the funds raised will help cover things that will make my recovery smoother and a lot less stressful.

Some things your donations will go toward:

Post-Surgery Therapy:

After surgery, I will have three weeks of rehabilitation therapy, but after that I am on my own. German public insurance is great, but not exactly generous with physical therapy. Extra funds will go toward additional therapy sessions so I can properly rebuild this dancer’s body

Transportation Help

Taking public transit to orthopedic check-ups or physical therapy appointments post-surgery sounds… ambitious. Ubers will help me get where I need to go without unnecessary pain or stressful subway situations, including broken elevators and icy Berlin sidewalks.

Food and Grocery Delivery

In those first few weeks, getting to the supermarket and making meals for myself will take more energy than I’ll have. Being able to order food and groceries will make a huge difference.

Basic Living Expenses

Freelancer life comes with a lot of benefits — but paid sick leave isn’t one of them. I’ll likely need at least three weeks, probably more, of downtime before I can work again. These funds will help me stay afloat while I heal.

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I’m so deeply grateful for all of you who’ve supported me through this journey. The past few years have been tough — grieving my old body, the one that could dance for hours, lift heavy things, or walk all over the city without a second thought of pain. But life has a funny way of throwing us curveballs which at first are frustrating but end up making us wiser and more compassionate.

This whole experience has taught me so much about chronic pain, self compassion, and the beauty of letting go of what once was. I’m ready to say goodbye to the old version of my body — and hello to the upgraded model.

I’m ready for my bionic era.

Please, only donate if you can. I know this time of year is tight for everyone, so there’s absolutely no pressure. Even 5 dollars or euros is incredibly generous.

Thank you for being in my life. I’m sending you love, belly laughs, hugs, and good vibes from Berlin.

With endless love,

Marlee

If you're curious, here are some links to give you a better idea of my surgery...

Information on Hip Resurfacing

Information about the special prosthetic that will be going into my hip

Information about the doctor performing the surgery .

Difference between hip replacement ( left) and hip resurfacing (right)