THE WEIGHT OF 13 YEARS

THE WEIGHT OF 13 YEARS

My Visual Memoir of Living with Fibroids, Surgery, and My Journey Back to Life By Asta Noor 25 October 2026

A true personal story of endurance, difficult decisions, faith, lessons, and hope.

COPYRIGHT

THE WEIGHT OF 13 YEARS

My Visual Memoir of Living with Fibroids, Surgery, and My Journey Back to Life

This memoir recounts the author's personal experiences of living with fibroids, undergoing surgery, and recovering. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding their individual medical concerns.

First edition: 2026

Copyright

Author’s Note

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE THE DAY I DISCOVERED I HAD FIBROIDS

CHAPTER TWO THE CHALLENGES I ENCOUNTERED BEFORE FINDING MY SURGEON

CHAPTER THREE DISCOURAGEMENT AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS BEFORE SURGERY

CHAPTER FOUR BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND PREPARATION FOR SURGERY

CHAPTER FIVE THE SURGERY, HOSPITAL STAY, AND DISCHARGE

CHAPTER SIX RECOVERY AT HOME: MY JOURNEY OF HEALING

CHAPTER SEVEN BACK TO LIFE: EMBRACING A NEW CHAPTER — GRATITUDE, REFLECTION, AND THE LESSONS OF MY JOURNEY

CLOSING REFLECTION

The Story Continues

AUTHOR’S NOTE Why I Chose to Tell My Story

Uterine fibroids can be a terrible and painful condition to live with. I never imagined that fibroids would become part of my life. I never expected to go through such an experience or that it would take years of challenges before I finally underwent surgery.

For a long time, my experience was something I lived through rather than something I imagined I would one day write about. Yet life sometimes takes us through circumstances we never planned for, leaving us with lessons we might not have learned in the same way otherwise.

My journey with fibroids began in May 2013, when I discovered an unusual hardness in my abdomen. It eventually led to surgery on 18 December 2025.

Those years became a significant chapter of my life. They brought physical difficulties, emotional challenges, unanswered questions, and experiences that changed my understanding of myself and my health.

I have chosen to write this book to preserve the story of that journey, reflect on the lessons I learned, and share my experience with other women who may be living with fibroids or facing similar uncertainties. My intention is not to suggest that every woman will experience fibroids in the same way. Every woman's circumstances are different, and medical decisions should be made according to individual needs and professional medical advice.

Rather, I want to tell my story honestly: what happened to me, what I endured, what I learned, and what I hope other women can take away from my experience.

If my story helps even one woman feel less alone, ask important questions about her health, or approach her own circumstances with greater understanding, then sharing it will have served a meaningful purpose.

This is my story, and these are the lessons I gathered along the way. Through this book, I hope to preserve a chapter of my life that I never expected to experience. — Asta Noor

INTRODUCTION The Beginning of an Unexpected Journey

Sometimes, the most significant journeys in our lives begin with moments that seem ordinary.

There may be no warning, no special occasion, and no reason to expect that anything is about to change. We simply go about our lives until something unexpected catches our attention and changes how we understand our circumstances.

For me, that moment came on a Sunday morning in May 2013. At approximately 8:30 a.m., I was lying on my bed in my room in Makurdi, Benue State. As I touched my abdomen, I noticed an unusual hardness. I paused, trying to understand what I was feeling. My mind quickly settled on one possibility: fibroids. It was a moment I would remember for years.

At the time, I could not have known everything that lay ahead. I did not expect that this discovery would begin…