🩺 My Hysterectomy Journey — October 2025
After three years of navigating doctor visits, blood tests, and ongoing health challenges, I finally reached a major milestone in my healing journey this fall. On Tuesday, October 20th, 2025, I had a full hysterectomy at age 42.
This decision came after years of dealing with a large uterine fibroid that had caused significant issues with my menstrual cycle, iron levels, and overall energy. Despite trying multiple treatments — including iron transfusions at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center and a failed procedure back in February — my body just wasn’t finding balance.
It wasn’t an emergency situation, but it was time. After much prayer, thought, and preparation, I felt peace about moving forward.
Preparing for Surgery
True to form, I went into “organizer mode” the week leading up to surgery — cleaning the house, setting up carpools, and making sure every detail was covered. Tyson took me to the hospital the morning of surgery. The night before, I had taken medication that made me so dizzy I needed a wheelchair just to get into the building.
Up until that point, I hadn’t felt nervous at all — just focused. But as I sat in that wheelchair waiting to be taken back to pre-op, the emotions finally caught up with me. I started crying — really crying — for the first time in the entire process. It was a release of all the fear, grief, and exhaustion that had built up over years of medical challenges.
When the nurses asked how I was feeling, I told them honestly: “Sad.”
And yet, underneath the sadness, there was peace.
Tyson had given me a priesthood blessing the day before, which meant so much to me. By the time they brought him into pre-op, I was calmer. I met my surgeon, Dr. Cooper, and the entire staff was wonderful. I was asleep before I even made it into the operating room.
Surgery & Hospital Stay
The next thing I remember was waking up in pain — which they quickly managed with medication. I spent two nights in the hospital. The first night was rough: my blood pressure dropped significantly (something that’s happened before after childbirth), and I couldn’t stand or go to the bathroom on my own.
By the second day, I started to stabilize. They removed the catheter (which was not fun, but such a relief afterward!), and I was able to move a bit more independently. I had four small incisions across my abdomen from the robotic procedure, along with internal stitches. I used ice diligently to keep inflammation down, and it helped a lot.
On October 22nd, I was released and came home to recover.
The Gift of Help
The help we received that first two weeks was such a blessing.
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Renee, a dear friend from my Conquer support community, flew in for a week. She cooked, played with the girls, and brought so much calm and warmth into the house.
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My parents arrived just hours after Renee flew home. They stayed for a week and were wonderful in their own ways — driving the girls to school, bringing me food, and taking me out for short wheelchair walks when the weather was nice.
I’ll never forget that feeling when my parents left on October 31st (Halloween morning). The house suddenly felt too quiet, and I remember thinking, “Oh no, what do we do now?”
But Tyson was amazing. He just looked at me and said, “We’ve got this.”
And he was right.
That evening, he took the girls trick-or-treating with a coworker while I stayed home resting with Kingston. It was such a simple, normal moment — and it felt like a turning point.
Finding Normal Again
By the following weekend, I could see glimpses of normal life returning. Sydney hosted her birthday party all by herself, and the girls were helping around the house in sweet, small ways — vacuuming, doing dishes, taking care of Kingston.
By Sunday, November 2nd (about eight days post-op), I felt well enough to attend church for one hour. It was my first time driving since surgery, and even though I came home exhausted, it felt so good to experience a bit of independence again.
Right now, my energy lasts about two hours before I need to rest for one. I’m slowly getting back to work — I started easing in with Leslie last week and returned fully to my client schedule on Monday, November 3rd.
Reflections & Gratitude
I’m hopeful that this surgery marks the start of a new season — one with stable iron levels, consistent energy, and the freedom of not being held hostage by my cycle every month.
I’m deeply grateful for everyone who helped make this possible:
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Tyson, who has been my steady rock through it all — caring for the girls, keeping our home running, and making sure I felt supported every step of the way.
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Renee and my parents, whose time and love carried us through those first two critical weeks.
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And my girls, who’ve shown such maturity, patience, and humor through all of it.
Our food budget may be a little wild this month (hello, takeout life 🍲), but we’re learning to laugh about it — and to focus on what matters most: healing, grace, and teamwork.
This chapter has been humbling, emotional, and deeply grounding. I don’t know exactly what the months ahead will look like, but I know this: I am healing, I am supported, and I am so, so grateful.
