Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tera Graham McArthur.
Hi Tera, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Creative Consultant and endometriosis activist currently living and working in the Bay Area, California. My areas of focus are personal and interior styling, fashion archiving, and patient advocacy.
In 2015, I was medically retired from the United States Air Force. My experiences in the military fostered my passion for women’s health and patient advocacy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve lived at least three lives. I have medical PTSD stemming from my time in the Air Force. In 2012, I developed pelvic pain, which progressively worsened. After a number of exploratory surgeries, my care team determined my illness was psychological.
I knew they were wrong. My pain worsened, and I continued to search for answers. After months of traumatic late-night visits to the Emergency room, the Air Force decided to permanently medically retire me in 2015.
By 2016, I was mostly bedridden, living with a cane, pain meds, and debilitating pelvic pain. After months of research, I found an online community of women called @nancysnookendo, where I discovered thousands of women struggling with THE SAME symptoms. I felt seen. This group connected me with the man who saved my life, Dr. John Dulemba.
At the time, Dr. Dulemba was one of 25 true endometriosis excision specialists. I brought as many of my saved documents as I could carry to my intake appointment. Dr. Dulemba ultimately diagnosed me with endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, and Interstitial cystitis. He hung all of my surgical photos on his wall and proceeded to circle the many visible areas of disease missed during each surgery I had in the military (including the very first surgery I had in 2012).
All those years, doctor visits, trips to the ER/where I was fagged as a “frequent flyer” & was subsequently refused care… Endometriosis was wreaking havoc on my body the entire time. The damage from the untreated disease was so extensive I had to have a full hysterectomy.
Dr. Dulemba recommended a full hysterectomy and excision surgery with a divine robot to remove the disease. I didn’t need a hysterectomy because I had endometriosis. I needed a full hysterectomy because the endometriosis was left untreated for so long. The disease wreaked havoc on my body… My bowel and other areas were also fused from adhesions caused by endometriosis.
At age 29, I had a complete hysterectomy with excision to remove the endometriosis. In total, I have had over a dozen surgeries related to this disease. Dr. Dulemba restored my quality of life. I have been endo-free since my surgery.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In addition to working on commissioned creative projects, I volunteer my time and teach others how to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings.
When I’m not immersed in fashion and design, I enjoy spending time reading medical peer reviewed journals and exploring new ways to merge health and fashion.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am well known for my extensive collection of Margiela Tabi footwear. I spend a lot of time discussing foot health.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @TeraFromJersey
Image Credits
@lebeam and Maebel Gebremedhin
