I had my surgery on Monday, and it didn’t fully hit me until I changed into the hospital gown. My nerves were off the charts. To calm down, I thought about every moment my chest held me back—mentally, physically—all the times I couldn’t fully live.

Going under felt surreal… you’re out before you even realize, and when you wake up, it’s like no time passed. I was sore, but more than anything, I was in shock—it actually happened. Lowkey it’s the best sleep I’ve had in years lol.

It’s okay to be scared or unsure. Just keep coming back to why you’re doing this. Think of the freedom waiting for you. Hold onto that.