In late October 2025, I was diagnosed with life-threatening anemia. My hemoglobin was 5.3 g/dL, less than half the oxygen-carrying capacity of a healthy adult. I rushed to the ER for an emergency blood transfusion because I was at immediate risk of organ failure and cardiac arrest.

While I watched the blood drip into my arm, the doctors kept reminding me that it was miraculous I was still alive, which explained why the past year of worsening symptoms had forced me to leave my job. At the time, I only knew that life felt like a worsening dirge, that something inside my body kept saying, “I feel like I’m dying." I thought I needed rest and a less physically demanding job. Instead, I had been working a job while dangerously ill. My debilitating fatigue was my body trying to save me.

Over the past seven months, I've undergone blood transfusions, multiple iron infusions, MRIs and countless blood tests for what doctors believe is the underlying cause: Multiple large uterine fibroids. Returning to severe anemia would be inevitable and the timeline for addressing this has depended upon the healing rate of my body (slow) and the available support of the medical establishment (even slower).

On April 1, 2026, I underwent uterine artery embolization (UAE) which cuts blood flow to fibroids causing the cells to die; Try to imagine your body's reaction when an organ inside you is dying. My radiologist warned me that the procedure could be incredibly painful but this was the best option to stave off the constant deluge of blood causing my anemia. While prepping me for the procedure, the nurse championed me for making this difficult commitment.

I could barely walk, couldn't eat, bleeding, nausea, fever, vomiting, bruising, cramping and a lot of crying from the worst pain of my life that even morphine and Oxycodone couldn’t abate. Apparently, it is common for pain meds to be under prescribed to women, and I felt the frustration of this inequality deeply when my meds began to run out prematurely, well before my pain was under control.

After seven months of medical emergencies, treatments, and financial strain, I’ve spent minimally $10,500 on the bare minimum of living expenses. I have exhausted all of my resources, but unfortunately my body isn’t done healing yet.

There have been encouraging signs since my UAE procedure, and I am deeply grateful for them. But recovery is slow, unpredictable, and can take up to a year before the full results are known. Real healing is only beginning NOW.

If you're able to donate, share this fundraiser or spread the word, I would be incredibly grateful. Your support will alleviate my financial recovery so I can continue to focus on my physical and emotional recovery.

Thank you so much for reading, and for caring.