It's time to Yeet the Ute! In case that didn't make sense to you, it just means that I have made the decision to get a hysterectomy to treat my uterine forbids. This isn't an elective surgery so I use "decide" loosely. In case you aren't aware, I have been battling the effects of uterine fibroids for several years and in 2025, things took a turn for the worse. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in different areas of the uterus. They can range from small annoyances to life-altering menaces.

There is no cure for fibroids and the treatments are pretty invasive. I had a myomectomy in 2023 to remove the first batch, but unfortunately fibroids can grow again. My fibroids are unfortunately the worst kind (submucosal) and have became so severe that I became extremely anemic and needed a blood transfusion and iron transfusions because my internal organs were not getting enough oxegyn. I was (and still am) basically bleeding to death. Fibroids cause heaby bleeding and pain during menstrual cycles and can disrupt the cycle altogether. I have literally had a period for a month now and my iron levels have started dropping rapidly again. A hysterectomy is the only qay to stop fibroids completely, so that is what I have opted to do.

Unfortunately, even with insurance, I will have significant put of pocket expenses. All the treaments I've had so far added up with the cost of surgery will be over $5,000. This is doctors visits, transfusions, prescriptions, and surgery. I didn't want to ask for help because I feel like everyone needs every cent these days and we all have debts to pay. But several friends have pointed out that people want to lift each other up, and sometimes we need to get by with a little help from our friends. It's hard to humble yourself to admit you need assistance, and even though I am single, I don't have to bear everything alone. So if you feel so inclined, here's your chance to chip in.

Firboids affect around 70% of women and occur even higher (around 90%) of Black women. Not a lot of research has been done to figure out causes and more potential treatments for fibroids, as women's health does not receive the same attention and care as men's. So much so, that celebrities like Lupita Nyong’o have started to raise awareness of this debilitating condition. Hysterectomy is perfect for me because I'm in my late 40s and don't want kids, but for younger women who want to have kids their options are more limited and fibroids can cause issues with fertility in addition to the other complications. So if we reach my goal and get over, I will donate to Make Fibroids Count, a non-profit that is dedicated to fibroids research, so that maybe women in the future won't have to suffer as much as women do today.

Sorry this is so long, but honestly I didn't even know fibroids were a thing until I got them and I hope that will change. The amount of pain, stress, depression, brain fog, and exhaustion I've felt these past 6 months has been intense to say the least. Having to wait until July 8 for the surgery means a few more months of suffering, but I honestly cannot wait. If you feel compelled to help me cover the financial costs, the emotional and physical costs will be a little easier to bear. Thank you for even considering helping out.