With the help of an amazing doctor and nurse practitioner, who realized that my uterus was literally ruining my life. The fact that I'd never be able to have kids without a lot of fertility treatments, and a family history of severe genetic health problems affecting infants - my brother was born with cancer, I have several cousins with heart defects - helped, too.

I was levelheaded when I made the request, I did my own research and presented them with my case for the surgery, and was willing to try the "last resort" options that they encouraged me to do. My fiance is extremely important, and went to every appointment with me, so they were able to see that we really were serious about it.