No one expects it to happen to them until it does. I got diagnosed with Stage 2b Ovarian Cancer on 2/20/26. I had major surgery to remove a 12 cm (large grapefruit) sized tumor from my left ovary, which was also removed due to the cancer.

My husband, Richard, and I been trying to have children for 5 years now. I was unofficially diagnosed with endometriosis in 2023. My husband and I didn't go through IVF because we did not have the money. I thought I could get treated for the endometriosis first.

The thing is, I was in process of gathering all my hours to become a licensed therapist. I thought I could really focus on getting the care I needed until after I passed the licensing exams.

I was wrong.

The endometriosis turned into cancer of the ovary and peritoneum. This is a risk that is less than 1% in occurrence. (quick google AI search). American cancer society says that women with endometriosis are 4 times greater risk of developing ovarian cancer, but the National Institutes of Health says 7.5 times more likely to develop cancer than women without endometriosis.

In 2025, I had a 7-week period in April to May that put me into high alert to get care I needed. It was not until August that I could finally get to an OBGYN due to the insurance companies making it difficult. By then, my insurance had expired to get care I needed.

It was December that I got onto my work's insurance and was able to finally find out what was going on.

When Richard and I were consulted about the surgery initially, my Gyn Oncologist warned me that if he found cancer, he would have to proceed with a full hysterotomy. However, he decided to just biopsy my uterus and right ovary after he removed the mass. I believe his wisdom in that was a miracle. Results showed no cancer there.

At the time we found out about the diagnosis on 2/20/26, my Gyn Oncologist referred us to fertility preservation. We thought it would be impossible but we were willing to take the steps to see if we can before I start chemotherapy. As you can imagine, there are costs with this process.

Given all that we are going through, Richard and I need financial support. He has not had a full-time job since July of 2025. Since then, he has been steady in applying for jobs with no luck. I am also reducing my work hours to go through treatment.

With your financial support, you can help pay for out-of-pocket costs for fertility preservation and medical bills. You would also be contributing to comfort for myself while I go through chemo such as comfortable clothing, vitamin supplements and simple comforts like ginger candy, peppermint essential oil and acupressure wristbands, which can make a big difference on tough days. Eventually, wigs would be a delightful fashion necessity.

I am deeply grateful for any support, whether it’s a donation, a kind word, or sharing my story. Your kindness will help me face this journey with hope and strength. Thank you for being here for me and my husband during this time.