“I am unfortunately no stranger to medical harm.”

Back in 2011, the c-section that brought my son into the world almost ended mine and left me permanently disabled. When I tried to hold doctors accountable I was medically blacklisted. Getting any diagnosis while blacklisted is practically impossible.
I knew early on one of the things I had was bowel endometriosis. There really isn’t a differential diagnosis for rectal bleeds that come monthly with your period. A laparoscopic surgery was scheduled with both an OBGYN and a bowel surgeon.
When I woke up in recovery, the OBGYN said she successfully removed my infected fallopian tube. When I asked about my bowels, she informed me that the bowel surgeon did not show up to this surgery. When I asked why, she shrugged and then told me she “didn’t want to touch my bowels and make things worse”.
In 2020 I had my first Pfizer vaccine and woke up the next morning with a sore arm and choking on my vomit. That was it, so I went for my second dose.
The next 6 months were an absolute nightmare. I started getting my periods and extremely painful rectal periods every other week for over 6 months. Each episode lasted 6-8 hours of my screaming and begging for death in front of my children.
I would suddenly see white and would instantly projectile vomit. This also lasted over 6 months. I had to start seeing an allergist because my allergies and asthma returned worse than they had ever been. This lasted about a year and a half. I also had a rare ovarian cyst removed from my vaginal wall.
In 2021 alone, four OBGYN’s refused my referral. So a patient advocate filed a human rights complaint on my behalf.
I wasn’t getting any help and was in a very dark place. So I went public on TikTok, sharing my medical blacklisting events. Shortly after this, I got into an OBGYN who made a referral to a surgeon that a viewer of my videos suggested.
They finally found the endometriosis in August of 2025. Exactly where in my bowel I had been telling them for over 12 years. Unfortunately it has spread and is now also adenomyosis. So I have been on a surgical waitlist for almost a year to have a hysterectomy and endometrial excision.
The bowel surgeon is hopeful he can do it without a bowel resention but I am terrified.
My diagnoses are:
- endometriosis
- adenomyosis
- gastroparesis
- dyssynergic defecation
- Hashimoto’s
- Raynaud’s
- fibromyalgia
- osteoarthritis
Plus the joys of getting diverticulitis and bowel obstructions 3-4 times a year.
When I had that c-section back in 2011, I was working full-time in a Toronto hospital, was doing my business management degree part-time at Ryerson, and had just bought my first house.
Now as a single mother with health issues I am struggling not to lose my house. My silver lining has been that I have been able to be at home with my kids and be active in their lives.
I have learned years ago that the only way to control the horrible symptoms of gastroparesis was by not eating. At most, I eat the equivalent to one-third of a normal sized meal, but many days I do not eat at all.
My kids started a yardwork job locally to help raise money for all the things I can’t afford and help me out with gas money. I started bartering my cooking, yardwork, and even snow removal for firewood and even natural medicine.
I will be forever grateful to Dallas for starting Silenced Survivors. She put a microphone in my hand and gave me a voice which was integral to my healing journey.
Every Survivor has a medical journey that requires long-term, if not lifelong care.
If you would like to send a donation to Zara and help with her healing journey, you can send an eTransfer to ZaraLeigh0805@hotmail.com
Your donation goes towards:
- fuel and vehicle expenses
- medical expenses
Survivors