Hi there.

If you have come across this post and find yourself reading this description, thank you for giving me any of your time today. This first paragraph will be the shortened version of why I am here and a more detailed explanation of how we got to this point will be below.

In essence, I am seeking assistance in paying for a particular treatment in regards to my health. Due to many circumstances and the current state of my medical affairs, I need to somewhat rapidly lose weight and expedite becoming healthy again. I met with a trainer named Alex at a specialty fitness center in Sacramento on March 7th, 2025 that is tailored toward a more focused training and addressing all factors (including medical circumstances) to create a comprehensive plan to take care of my health and prevent future complications that are on the horizon. Unfortunately, such a plan is not covered by insurance and I would need to pay out of pocket. I need $750 by the 18th of March to secure the program and a total of $2,500 (including the initial $750) by the 18th of April to completely cover the 15 week program.

To elaborate a bit more on how we got here, let's go back in time. Starting at a young age and going all through my teen years and into adulthood, I was consistently active. I played some baseball, yearly soccer, yearly basketball, and danced semi-professionally year-round all the way until my senior year of high school. For those of you who know me personally, you would know that dancing was my everything. I loved the movements and the expressions and the way it made me feel both physically and mentally. It was a kind of art I did with my body and, dare I say, I was pretty good at it too. It fulfilled parts of me mentally and emotionally that I don't think I could replicate again. Even to this day I am still chasing the adrenaline high of performing on a stage in front of hundreds of people in an elaborate costume with my team by my side. It is a part of me I would do anything to have back. I fully intended to find a new team as an adult and into college.

After graduation from high school in 2016, I began to start looking for another dance team in Sacramento and even attended a few sessions at a local studio to test the waters; I also continued to participate in sports in my freshman year of college by preparing to join the swim team. Everything suddenly stopped when a large benign cyst was found in my upper right thigh. It was surrounded by scar tissue and needed to be removed quickly as it was at risk of becoming dangerous. In the Fall 2016 semester, I had surgery on my leg which led to a stitched up leg and being on crutches for around 3 months and then it was another 3 before the stitches even came out. For half a year, I was essentially banned from physical activity. This was the beginning of the end for me.

I began to fall away from who I was and who I wanted to be. I rapidly gained weight, made poor eating choices, and generally suffered as I tried to balance my recovery from surgery, being a full time student, and working 2 jobs to pay for my housing and extra educational necessities. It became this insane and unfortunate fight to try and regain some semblance of control but the punches just kept on coming. Since then, I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, Narcolepsy, Sleep Apnea, Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Hypothalamus Imbalance, and am still being evaluated for a neurological disorder that affects my body's ability to regulate physical functions like sleep and digestion. I take close to 37 medications a day just to keep my organs functioning. I graduated high school around 180 pounds. I am now at 320 pounds.

I have been sick of living my life this way but never really made significant changes until now. I tried to go for walks and eat more vegetables and make those better choices, but my diseases and disorders continued to make even being awake an impossible task. I met with my new doctor, Melanie, in February of this year at which time she informed me I was dangerously pre-diabetic and if I didn't make drastic changes, I could have diabetes by the end of the year. She also told me about new pushes from insurance companies towards encouraging patients to have weight loss surgery if they were over 300 pounds; this is something I have been adamant about not happening. There is also significant research surrounding my diagnoses that weight loss, exercise, and eating changes could drastically reduce my symptoms.

One of the biggest parts of my life (and driving forces) is my younger brother. With a 10 year age difference, he was essentially "my child" too. I remember running around outside, playing on the trampoline, and playing video games together. I loved that baby to death and am so proud of the man he has become today. He says I was always an inspiration to him as he grew up and now the tables have turned. He is going to college in high school, in honors classes, lead in the saxophone section in marching band, running track and field, and preparing to train to be a pilot. He is also VERY health conscious and frequently meal plans and works out. He reminded me of my younger years and who I was and how I want to be that again. After all the years of inspiring him, it was his turn to inspire me.

On top of all this though, I just want my life back. I want to be able to run on beaches and chase my little cousins around and be able to go up and down stairs without needing to take a break. I want to reduce medications I am on. I want to not have to worry about my health. I want to be able to carry children one day. I want to feel good about myself again.

I am ready to make this commitment and lifestyle change in order to reconquer who I am while also learning everything I can in order to pass on healthy traditions to future generations. I want to be better. I want to do better.

I just want more from life.

If you came this far, thank you for your time. If you want to help me on this journey, please donate if you can.

Much love,

Lacey