Heroes
An Open Door Leads To Healing
BY ADAMA DYONIZIAK , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , CHAMPIONS FOR HEALTH
Acela asked herself : “ Will I always be like this ? I prayed every day , I told God , I really need this , my kids need me , I am all they have , if you really love me , open these doors to healing .” Acela ’ s journey of abdominal pain and heavy uterine bleeding began 2 years ago . Her physician told her that the ultrasound and biopsy showed uterine fibroids . Scared of surgery , Acela tried home remedies “ always with the hope that it would go away .”
During that time , Acela could not miss work and she recalls feeling embarrassed and ashamed . “ I would stain my clothes and would have to keep working . I started packing multiple clothing options .” Acela was feeling hopeless and frustrated . She constantly felt weak , experienced hip and leg pain , anemia , and exhaustion . to Champions for Health Project Access San Diego ( PASD ). Surgery had a wait of 6-12 months . “ I said that God put the right people in my life at the right time . Ms . Evelyn ( PASD care manager ) came to my house and helped me fill out the application , it was incredible ! Who does that for you ? No one !”
The most challenging part was explaining everything to her sons . “ My kids would ask me to go somewhere , and I would say of course my loves , we will go . And then the day of , I could not go .” Acela saw her world get smaller and smaller , limited by her fear of a sudden heavy period .
One day , Acela was hemorrhaging and needed a blood transfusion . She was referred by TrueCare
70 GBSAN . COM | FEBRUARY 2024 Dr . Eimaneh Mostofian