I got my period at the age of 12. It was awkward at first. My mom gave me pads, and I remember walking funny, wondering, “What is this?!”

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Well, as the months went on, one thing became consistent: my period lasted seven days. Every. Single. Month. I don’t remember exactly when the cramps started, but by the time I was 14 or 15, the pain had become unbearable. I went to the gynecologist with my mom and was told, “Oh, that’s typical. She’s still developing.” At home, I relied on warm compresses and hot water bottles for relief, while Advil quickly became my go-to solution. 

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Fast forward to my 20s and early 30s, the story was still the same: heavy bleeding, painful cramps, bloating, and exhaustion. Because my mom and aunts experienced similar issues, I believed this was simply part of being a woman. There were days I curled up in my office cubicle trying to push through the pain, moments of bleeding through my clothes, and constant bloating that left me uncomfortable for days at a time. I found myself asking, “At what point does this stop?”

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Eventually, the bloating was so constant that I wondered if something else was wrong entirely. I scheduled an appointment with a gastroenterologist, but before moving forward, the nurse recommended I get an abdominal ultrasound first. Looking back, I believe she knew it was more than a stomach issue. She was right.

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The ultrasound revealed that I had seven fibroids, varying in size from small limes or lemons. I remember feeling both shocked and relieved at the same time. Shocked because I finally had a diagnosis, but relieved because there was finally an explanation for what my body had been experiencing for years.

Meanwhile, I had a gynecologist whom I saw regularly for annual pap smears. Looking back, he was good for what I understood good care to be at that time.

 

He listened to my concerns and suggested birth control pills to help manage the bleeding and cramping. I tried a low-dose pill for a short period, but it didn’t feel right for me. Eventually, it felt like the underlying message was: “Why not get a hysterectomy? That’ll spare you from the bleeding and the pain. Plus… you’re probably not going to have kids anyway.”

 

I had the surgery in February 2018. Real talk… about two weeks later, an angry cry came from the depths of my soul. But even in that moment, I knew there had to be more because my God wasn’t going to leave me without answers.

Still, I wrestled with questions about marriage, motherhood, purpose, and what my future would look like. More than anything, I kept asking God:

“How are YOU going to use this? I know You enough, Lord, to know there’s something greater here.”

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In 2021, I spent intentional time praying and seeking the Lord about next steps. During that season, I felt God clearly impressed on my heart to pray for women experiencing reproductive health issues and to share my story as led. Then, in 2024, the Lord gave me I Am Well and More.

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What began as personal pain slowly became purpose, advocacy, prayer, and community. The story is still unfolding, but one of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been seeing women experience relief, feel seen, ask questions, seek support, and realize they are not alone.

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…so are you well? …and do you want more?