When Advocacy Meets Care

Vacation Nightmare

In January 2025, while returning from a birthday trip in Marion County for her wife, Lakisha Carter experienced unexpected and alarming pain.

“I went to the bathroom and couldn’t urinate,” she said. Carter could feel the fullness of her bladder and knew something wasn’t right when she couldn’t empty it. She felt an excruciating pain in her abdomen, and things quickly became worse. The pain became so bad that she couldn’t stand or walk. She knew it was time to call 911.

While still in Marion County, Carter went to a local emergency department where she learned she had multiple fibroids, including one large enough to shift her bladder and cause discomfort. The emergency medicine physicians provided very few details but gave her an urgent referral to a gynecologist and a urologist, emphasizing the need for Carter to see these specialists as quickly as possible. She was discharged with a lot of questions still unanswered. After her visit to the emergency department, Carter followed up with her primary care doctor from UF Health, who referred her to a urologist and an OB-GYN.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Carter’s first follow-up was with the urologist. After reviewing her case, the urologist referred Carter to an OB-GYN for treatment, suggesting she might need a hysterectomy.

Carter felt overwhelmed that a hysterectomy might be her only option. Carter felt what she needed was a deeper understanding of her diagnosis and to fully understand all options. At 42 years old, Carter had no prior knowledge of her fibroids, nor had she experienced any previous pain or discomfort. She had serious concerns about undergoing a hysterectomy, and she knew she had to take control of her health and advocate for another opinion.

Finding Hope

A few weeks later, Carter had a scheduled appointment with Anastasia Hawkins, DO, an OB-GYN at UF Health Jacksonville, where she was able to get some answers that shed light on what was truly going on with her body.

“Once I met Dr. Hawkins at UF Health, I was relieved,” Carter said.

Hawkins immediately referred her to Chanda Reese, MD, MSCP, FACOG, FACS, an OB-GYN and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at UF Health Jacksonville. Reese specializes in complex procedures, specifically endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, uterine fibroids and patients with complex surgical histories. During the consultation with Reese, Carter was assured she did not need a hysterectomy, and that other options were available to her.

“It was a breath of fresh air,” Carter said.

After the appointment, she went home with tears of relief. Reese was able to provide Carter with the answers she needed to have hope.

“I went over her imaging, I explained with diagrams what fibroids were and the different ways that they can impact a woman’s life. I gave her an overview of what her options would be, so that she could start considering and discussing with family,” Reese said.

Based on the consultation, Carter decided to have a myomectomy, which is a minimally invasive procedure to remove fibroids while preserving the uterus. During the procedure, the surgeon carefully separates the fibroid from the surrounding tissue of the uterus and removes it from the area where it developed.

“Carter went in with a very positive attitude,” Reese said. “Our goal is that ultimately, the patient’s life is better after surgery. Carter was extremely appreciative.”

The Power of Advocacy

In March 2025, Carter had a successful myomectomy procedure to remove four fibroids and reconstruct the uterus. Carter expressed how kind and patient Reese had been from the beginning. Reese’s passion for her work helped Carter feel more comfortable.

From this experience, Carter has learned to become a better advocate for herself.

“It’s important to do your research, get multiple opinions, and advocate for yourself,” Carter said. “Having a hysterectomy doesn’t have to be the end, especially when you find out there are other options that aren’t as permanent.”

Carter also learned the importance of having conversations about your health with others.

“I’ve had heavy bleeding and blood clots all my life, but no one ever asked me about fibroids being a cause or made it seem like an issue, until now,” Carter said. “I thought this was normal.”

“The unfortunate thing is that a lot of women accept this as their normal because they don’t have anything to compare it to. A period is intimate, and you only know your own,” Reese said.

Reese encourages women to become better advocates by being more aware of their bodies, tracking any irregular symptoms, taking notes at appointments, and checking their medical records. It’s also important to find a doctor that you feel comfortable with and have a friend or family member as an advocate as well when you’re asking questions.

Since the procedure, Carter has been doing much better and has been able to return to her normal life. She is grateful for meeting Reese and having the life-changing experience in her care.

“I can’t thank everyone on Dr. Reese’s team enough for what they did for me,” Carter said.