For years, 20-year-old Allison Fisher silently endured worsening pain, irregular periods, and a stomach so swollen it made her feel like she was “pregnant with 10 kids.” But fear and past medical fat-shaming kept her from seeking help.

“I was always told, ‘You just need to lose weight,’ no matter what I came in for,” she shared. “Eventually, I stopped going altogether.”

But by Christmas 2022, things got worse. She couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes, breathe properly, or even drive. The pain became unbearable. Finally, pushed by her mother’s recent cancer diagnosis, Allison saw a doctor.

The diagnosis was staggering: a 104-pound ovarian cyst filled with 46 liters of fluid. It had crushed her organs and twisted one of her ovaries.

A surgical team at Ascension St. Vincent’s successfully removed the massive growth using robotic technology—and saved her fertility in the process.

Now, Allison calls it her “second chance.” She can stand, wear clothes, and see her feet again—simple things she never thought she’d regain. She’s even preparing for weight-loss surgery and looking forward to finally living her life.

Her message to others who feel judged by doctors: “Don’t be scared. Your health matters too.”