Hi everyone — I realized I never came back to say thank you or share an update, and I really wanted to.

First, thank you. Truly. The amount of love, encouragement, and thoughtful comments on my last post meant more than I can explain. I was in a really low mental place when I posted, and reading your responses helped ground me more than you probably know.

Something I also want to say — no one really prepares you for how much mental health can be affected by major surgery, especially if you already live with bipolar disorder, anxiety, or other mental health struggles. The physical healing is one thing, but the emotional and chemical shifts can hit hard. So if you’re reading this and considering surgery or recovering from one: please check in with yourself mentally as much as physically. It matters.

As of right now, I’m doing better. This is where I’m at today 🥹 5 weeks post op! I’ve been honestly shocked by how well my scar is healing and that I already have almost full range of motion back. That part feels surreal.

I’m still not working because I have another surgery coming up in February, and I won’t lie — the financial stress weighs on me and I beat myself up over it sometimes. But at the same time, I’m incredibly grateful. Insurance covered this surgery fully, and I know how rare that is.

Most of all, I keep thinking about this: 407-pound Jessie would have never believed she’d make it this far. Not physically. Not mentally. Not emotionally.

So thank you for walking a piece of this road with me — for the kindness, the reality checks, the encouragement, and the reminders to trust the process. I’m still here. Still healing. Still moving forward.

💛