Met a young aspiring writer at my Morrow Arts Center signing—his excitement reminded me ofone of the reasons why I write.

A raw confession of living in the tension between triumph and collapse—publishing a book, building a life, yet drowning in illness, loss, and disappointment. This is the truth behind the mask, the cracks I can no longer hide.

Admitted for severe back pain, I expected compassion and care. Instead, a surgeon dismissed my pain, my weight, even my career. Here’s the truth about my diagnosis, the bias I faced, and why I refuse to be invisible.