Let’s talk about June and me.
June was born in my living room, during one of the hardest times of my life.
For as long as I remember, I wanted to be a doctor. I worked for years to get into medical school, believing that was the best way to help improve women’s health. But sometimes, life has other plans.
While I was studying, I was also navigating my own health challenges. I spent years in and out of GP clinics, undergoing endless tests, searching for answers to symptoms no one could explain. Each appointment left me with more questions than answers. I felt like I was screaming into the void, desperate for someone to take me seriously. Eventually, I underwent surgery to diagnose endometriosis. During the procedure, they also performed a Pap smear – something that wasn’t routine for someone my age.
A week later, I got the call. CIN2. High-grade abnormal cells on my cervix. I was 21-years away from the recommended screening age-and already facing the possibility of something far worse if I didn’t act fast. I remember sitting with that news, trying to process it. Why am I only getting this test in a crisis moment during surgery? What if I didn’t live in a big city with access to specialists? What if I couldn’t afford private healthcare? What if there was an easier, stigma-free way?
I didn’t have the answers. But I knew something had to change.
