The Fibroid Fighters Foundation’s mission goes beyond raising awareness, fostering spaces where stories are shared, knowledge is exchanged, and communities come together. 

That mission came to life at the annual “Your Health in Full Bloom” awareness event in NYC, expanding the conversation beyond fibroids to embrace whole-body health. Nearly 500 advocates, experts, survivors, and supporters came together to share stories, gain insights, and champion better care. The room buzzed with conversations about health that don’t often make the headlines — the quiet struggles of living with chronic conditions. 

Throughout this event, a recurring theme from the speakers was the power of education in reshaping how people approach their health. For many in the room, gaining knowledge was not just about their own well-being, but also about equipping themselves with the tools to support their families, friends, and communities along their health journey.

Voices That Moved the Room: The Women’s Health Panel

Moderated by celebrity makeup artist Kym Lee King and Cynthia Bailey, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the “She Matters” panel brought together women to share personal stories and reflect on the challenges of living with fibroids.

Star-Studded Panelists

Shay Johnson, reality star, spoke about living with severe fibroid symptoms, anemia, and heavy bleeding, navigating the challenges of her career, personal life, and motherhood while coping with chronic health issues.

Toya Johnson, reality star and advocate, shared the emotional and physical toll of recurring fibroids, the struggles of infertility, and her journey seeking treatment options that aligned with her personal health and family planning goals.

Cara Maria Sorbello, professional athlete on MTV’s The Challenge, reflected on how persistent fibroid symptoms and everyday physical challenges impacted her training, performance, and daily life, highlighting that even athletes can face hidden, chronic health burdens.

The discussion explored broader themes of awareness, advocacy, and support, encouraging attendees to recognize symptoms, understand their experiences, and feel empowered to take action for their own health and the health of those around them.

Expanding the Dialogue: Mental Health Panel

WABC New York news anchor Sandra Bookman set the tone for the “More Than Skin Deep: The Mental Weight of Physical Health” panel, guiding a discussion that connected the physical and emotional impacts of chronic conditions.

The conversation framed health as a whole-body experience, showing how symptoms ripple beyond the individual to affect families, workplaces, and communities.

Men’s Health: Personal Experiences

Building on that perspective, spiritual leader Pastor Dante King spoke about men’s health, drawing from his experience with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Affecting nearly half of men over age 50, this condition causes the prostate gland to enlarge, leading to frequent urination, bladder control issues, and disrupted sleep.

He also reflected on the impact of his wife Kym Lee’s fibroid journey, noting how physical health challenges can strain relationships and emotional well-being. His insights emphasized the importance of breaking stigma and encouraging open conversations about health within families and communities.

Mind-Body Connection

The discussion then broadened to mental and emotional health. Licensed clinical social worker Katiuscia Gray explained the mind-body connection, emphasizing how recognizing early signs of imbalance can support both physical and emotional health. Psychotherapist and mental health speaker Amanda Fludd explored ways to create safe, supportive spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences, underscoring that a community-centered approach strengthens both individual and collective well-being.

Together, these panels highlighted that health challenges are never just physical. They impact emotions, relationships, and communities. By sharing experiences and insights, panelists modeled the power of storytelling, connection, and advocacy—core principles of Fibroid Fighters’ mission to inform, empower, and educate.

Music and Recognition

The focus shifted from conversations to celebration as the night progressed. Grammy-nominated R&B singer Tweet, best known for her hit “Oops (Oh My),” and LaTocha, of the multi-platinum group Xscape, had the room swaying, singing, and smiling together.

For Tweet, the performance carried an added layer of meaning. In recent years, she has spoken candidly about her own battle with uterine fibroids, sharing how the condition has disrupted her life through pain, emotional strain, and tumor recurrence even after treatment. Her openness has made her an advocate for women’s reproductive health, using her platform to remind others they are not alone. 

The music was a statement of joy, resilience, and the strength found in shared moments. 

The Flora Award of Excellence

Established in memory of Dr. Flora Katsnelson, the Flora Katsnelson Award for Excellence recognizes those who share her commitment to advancing health equity and improving excellence and access to care. As a co-founder of the Fibroid Fighters Foundation and a leader in multispecialty healthcare, Dr. Katsnelson’s work continues to inspire a future where prevention, treatment, and patient empowerment are at the center of medicine, inspiring individuals to take charge of their well-being.

The 2025 Flora Award of Excellence honorees were recognized not just for what they’ve overcome in their own health journeys, but for how they’ve inspired others. 

Ella Destiny was recognized as a health advocate for her unwavering spirit in the face of repeated life-threatening health challenges.After the birth of her son, she was diagnosed with fibroids, and worsening symptoms led to an emergency hysterectomy. During the procedure, her intestines were severed, leaving her in the ICU for days fighting for her life. 

Years later, a sudden headache revealed itself to be the warning sign of a brain aneurysm, another battle that once again tested her strength. In light of these experiences, she continues to champion awareness, using her story to encourage women to take their health seriously and listen to their bodies. 

Cynthia Bailey was honored for her willingness to speak out about fibroids on national television—the first woman to do so. She remains committed to keeping fibroids and whole-body health at the forefront of conversations.

How to Keep Blooming

“Your Health in Full Bloom” showed what’s possible when advocacy, community, and culture come together. Fibroid Fighters remains committed to making sure no woman faces her health journey alone — and to ensuring uterine fibroids and women’s health receive the attention they deserve.

The conversations and connections made during the evening don’t end with the event; they’re a call to action. Here’s how you can be part of the movement: 

• Stay informed: Follow us on social media. 
• Spread awareness: Share your story and encourage others to get involved. 
• Attend our events. 

Together, we can bring about change so that people have the knowledge, support, and resources they need to live free from chronic pain, discomfort, and the limitations of untreated symptoms made possible through accessible and compassionate healthcare.