It was a Tuesday afternoon when I sent the message.
I had rewritten it at least ten times.
Each version sounded desperate.
But perhaps desperate was exactly what I was.
For nearly three years, I had battled fibroids. What started as heavy periods had become a nightmare. My stomach had grown so large that strangers frequently asked when my baby was due. I was constantly exhausted, my haemoglobin was dangerously low, and surgery had been recommended.
The problem was simple.
I couldn't afford it.
Every hospital I visited gave me the same answer.
"You need surgery."
Every quote felt impossible.
I had begun to lose hope.
Then a friend forwarded a flyer from My Gynae Foundation.
I stared at it for days before gathering the courage to send a WhatsApp message.
"Good afternoon. I heard you help women with fibroids. Please, can someone help me?"
I expected silence.
Instead, I received a response within hours.
The person on the other end did not judge me.
They did not rush me.
They listened.
For the first time in years, I felt seen.
Over the following weeks, I was connected with medical professionals, guided through the process, and eventually received support that made my surgery possible.
The day I woke up after surgery, I cried.
Not because of the pain.
But because the burden I had carried for so long was finally gone.
Today, I share my story because one message can change a life.
Sometimes the hardest step is asking for help.
And sometimes hope arrives through something as simple as a WhatsApp notification.