Hello sweet hive mind! I am generally remiss to ask for help (most of you know that I am bullheaded and stubborn, I like to think it adds to my charm! ) But I think it's also important to know when its time to ask. So the following has some intimate details of my internal lady bits, not really something I'm thrilled to share with the greater internet, but so it goes. 
Earlier this summer I discovered that I have a grapefruit sized mass on an ovary, an "endometrioma"- a sign, generally, of a little talked about but very common disease, endometriosis. What this entails basically, is the lining of the uterus grows in the wrong place, outside of the uterus, and attaches to other organs. Every month, this extra lining breaks down and bleeds, which creates scar tissue, sometimes binding those organs together, and causing some significant pain. According to the doctor this mass likely began forming some five years ago, and I've been living with it more or less contentedly since then- as also most of you know, i'm no stranger to chronic pain since my fall in 2010. This year however it began to rear its head a bit more.  The past few months, i've been dealing with some significant pain in both my stomach and low back, and a  near constant distention of my stomach.  It feels like all of my organs are bruised, tender to touch, and difficult to straighten and stand. The past few weeks i've had a few spells of what seems like a stomach bug-- all, I assume, related to the illness. It has also begun to take a toll mentally. 

My particular endometrioma is classified as severe. It is an 11 cm mass, which has taken over at the very least an ovary, with risk of attaching to more  of my organs. Surgery is a necessity. I've met with a surgeon in Asheville and have the operation planned. It's more than likely just going to be a laparoscopic procedure with a 3-6 week recovery time, barring any surprises should be fairly straight forward. Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate a major surgical procedure when shopping for health insurance this year. Out of pocket, with insurance, this is going to cost me close to $14,000. 

Now, as mentioned, I don't love to ask for favors. I need help tackling this debt, and any little bit would help. I'm going to make some specific artwork to this event, but also have some prints stashed away, so know if you donate i'll have something sweet headed your way. I'm grateful to you, my community for standing by. 
Thanks for reading, and sharing, and considering