For years, I followed the protocol. Each round provided temporary relief. Each round quietly disrupted something deeper.

At the same time, I was navigating a demanding career in fashion while actively auditioning in Los Angeles. Long hours. Creative deadlines. Sneaking away for auditions. Constant pressure to perform. Chronic stress that I had normalized as ambition.

The sinus infections became more frequent. When they flared, antibiotics were prescribed. Relief would come briefly, and then the cycle would repeat.

Eventually, I experienced two back-to-back sinus infections, both treated with antibiotics within a short window of time. My system was already strained, though I did not yet understand how deeply.

Then came E. coli.

What I initially thought was a simple stomach bug escalated quickly. Within hours, I was in urgent care and diagnosed with a serious bacterial infection. Because of the recent antibiotic use, my options were limited. I was prescribed one of the strongest oral antibiotics available. The alternative was hospitalization and intravenous treatment.

I remember being afraid I would not be able to keep the medication down.

I was able to, thanks to prayer, willpower, and the grace of God. But something shifted afterward.

Within days, my body felt completely foreign to me. Rapid heart rate. Sweating after drinking anything cool. Heavy fatigue. Brain fog. A deep sense that my system was dysregulated.

I was told it would pass.

It did not.

I thought my body was giving out on me. This was the moment I realized my body was not betraying me—it was signaling.