When I was 19, I suddenly lost my appetite, and my body began to betray me. My stools were watery, I was dizzy and disoriented and I collapsed in my kitchen. I spent hours in the ER, only to be sent home with vague advice. And a referral to G.I..no one suspected what was lurking. Months later, I was told I had IBS and that I was too young to be worrying myself sick. In that moment started researching and C. diff kept popping up. This new transplant was on the rise in the UK and it was curing people of the same symptoms I was! Finally, after experiencing both a vaginal and rectal prolapse, I immediately went to a different hospital where I was diagnosed with C. diff. At 92 pounds I was sent to a specialist at Mayo in Rochester Minnesota where I underwent many different rests and procedures. One being a 2 day “photo session” that showed me stomach was operating 25% slower than the average person at my age. My body was shutting down, a result of years on the brink. I was dying, and I was just 25.

I remember long nights when I was so scared I wouldn’t wake up. And when I did, I clung to every day because every day meant a chance to see my children grow. After years of torment, Mayo Clinic gave me a glimmer of hope. I was one of the first to undergo a fecal microbiota transplant. And slowly, after signing that form, something began to shift.

But it took eight long years to gain back any real weight. I hovered at 105 pounds, and only after relentless effort did I reach 130 in the last 2 years. On April 1st, 2026 we had a significant sewer leak which infiltrated our HVAC system an left the home legally contaminated/biohazardous. I was diagnosed with Cdiff again on April 8th, 2026. A round of vanco (which was much more controlled this time around) and another 15 lbs of weight loss. My body has endured the most terrifying battle it could.

But..I know how this works now, you get it once, you’re 25% more likely to relapse. After this, I’m 50% more likely. But I am a fighter. Just like all of you. And together, we will find what stops this. I’m confident in that, because I’m still here.