My name is Destiny, and for the last year or more, I have been struggling not only with my physical health but also my mental health. I couldn't understand why simple tasks became so difficult, why my body felt exhausted no matter how much I rested, or why I felt so useless and lazy. I blamed myself, thinking I just wasn't trying hard enough. On top of that, I experienced constant bleeding for over a year, assuming it was just a family history of bad periods. The severe back pain was what finally broke me.

I've always put my medical needs on hold to care for others, but this year I decided it was time to put myself first and find out what was wrong. My husband and I worked to get me insurance, but while waiting for it to become active, we moved into a new apartment. During the move, my husband—who is 50% disabled after losing his hearing to an inner ear tumor—fell down the stairs due to his vertigo. Once again, I put my health on hold to care for him. But the back pain became unbearable, and I finally went to the hospital, thinking I had just strained my back. After a series of tests and seeing the concern on the doctors' faces, I learned they suspected cervical cancer. I was transferred to another hospital, and after more tests, it was confirmed: I had a 9mm mass on my cervix. A week later, my cancer doctor confirmed it was actually a 5cm mass that had spread.

At the hospital, they gave me an iron infusion because my iron was almost nonexistent from losing so much blood. I have a few more tests ahead before we know what stage I am in and what my treatment plan will look like. Surgery is not an option, as the mass is too large and they cannot safely see past it, so I will be starting chemo and radiation to try and shrink the mass attached to my cervix. I am so scared, as some form of female cancer has taken nearly every woman in my family. My doctors have me on a lot of pain medication, though it doesn't always help. I know I have great doctors, but my mental health and other medical conditions make this even harder. The uncertainty is overwhelming, not just for me but for my family as well.

This news has turned my world upside down. I had to close my business after my diagnosis, leaving our household with no income. My husband is working on getting disability, but for now, we have no income while bills and expenses keep coming. My doctors have told me to eliminate as much stress as possible during my treatments, but that is easier said than done when I am constantly worrying about how to keep our home running. Any support—whether it is a donation or sharing my story—would mean the world to me and my family. We cannot express how much your kindness and generosity would help us during this difficult time.