There are moments when information changes everything.

In 2020, I met my biological father for the first time. Not long after, he was diagnosed with breast cancer. His doctor advised him to tell his children to get tested for the BRCA gene. I did, and the results came back positive for BRCA2.

That means I have a 60 to 80 percent chance of developing one of two aggressive forms of breast cancer within the next ten years.

I was given a choice. I could undergo mammograms and MRIs every six months and live in a constant state of waiting, or I could act on the information I have now. On February 3rd, I will be undergoing a prophylactic double mastectomy. It is technically elective, but it did not feel optional to me.

The surgery itself is only part of the story.

Recovery will take me out of work for four to eight weeks. I supplement my photography income with virtual assistant work, all of which I’ll be unable to do while healing. February and March will be zero-income months. I’ll also miss the booking season in the wedding industry, which means I don’t yet know what the rest of the year will look like financially.

I believed I could handle this on my own. I’m realizing now that asking for help is part of getting through it.

If you’re able to contribute, funds will go toward basic living expenses during recovery, a high insurance deductible, and the anticipated portion of my surgery bill that insurance will not cover.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for any support you’re able to offer. I’m deeply grateful.