When I was pregnant with my second child, Levi, I had gallstones. I was always told it was gas by my OBGYN. I had immense pain every single night that would take my breath away. It lasted for hours. All I could do was curl up in a ball and cry.

After he was born, I had pain like never before and kept throwing up bile. I was rushed to the ER and diagnosed with gallstones that needed emergency surgery. After being sent to another hospital, they removed my gallbladder. A stone fell into my bile duct, which resulted in me getting pancreatitis. I was 21 years old. My daughter was 4. My son was now 2 months old.

I stayed in the hospital for 2 months, had several surgeries, and eventually a feeding tube. I ended up with an 18 mm cyst on my pancreas and almost 2 liters of fluid in my left lung lining. The pain was excruciating, even on the highest doses of pain medication.

My kids and my mom were with me every day. That hospital became our home. All I wanted was my babies, in case anything happened to me. Eventually, the cyst was ready to drain, and I was able to go home.

I have been battling this for almost 7 years now, and have had more cysts, stents placed, and more surgery during that time. My kids are who gives me hope, and I do my best every day to be there for them.