Donate to Raven's Surgery and Recovery Fund

Hello, my name is Raven and I have endometriosis. I have had chronic pain issues since I was 11. It was years of pain and specialists before my own research found out about Endo. I brought it up with my general doctor, who agreed that made a lot of sense and referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon spoke to me for only a few minutes before agreeing to do the first surgery. After that surgery and being told it was in fact endometriosis, sitting down with her and asking where it was located in my body and what organs are being affected, I was told, "It's everywhere." She refused to give me any more info and in fact left the room before we were done with the appointment. It wasn't until a nurse came to clean the room I was in that we knew she wasn't going to be any more helpful than just doing the procedure. That was 8 years ago. I have had to have a handful of surgeries since to help with pain management.

It has been over 3 years since my last surgery because it is so hard to find a doctor who will listen and actually help out. I have seen over 10 different doctors and specialists since I was a young child trying and begging for answers and help.

During my last surgery, I was informed that my uterus and bladder were fused together with the Endo. See, Endo is basically a mold, to put it in easy terms to understand, that is all over my internal organs, fusing some together and growing all over. During my cycles, it also attempts to leave the body but has nowhere to go. At my worst, I'm screaming in pain in the ER where morphine doesn't even begin to cover the issue.

I'm at a point where my quality of life is so low that I don't understand how I am supposed to function. I feel all my organs inside grind together whenever I stand up or sit down, walking is nearly impossible, and I am unable to keep food and sometimes even water down. It's like a labor contraction that doesn't stop.

This is where I need help from my community. I finally found a general practitioner who listens to me and referred me to Loyola University. After 6 months of waiting for an appointment, I spoke to an Endo specialist and surgeon who finally agreed to give me a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy is seen in the Endo community as a way to stop the pain. For most cases, removing the uterus is the best way to stop the hormone that produces Endo. I was approved for that a couple of months ago and have been eagerly awaiting it since. After over a month of asking what my co-pay was going to be, I was finally JUST told ten days before my surgery date that I owe $1,497 at check-in. I already knew having this surgery and taking time off for it was going to most likely put me behind on bills and make it so Christmas was small this year. I was perfectly okay with that as I know my health is more important. Now I do not have that much money. I do not have nearly 1.5 grand. I need help raising those funds. I applied for state aid but I am waiting to hear back or be approved. I am not risking it waiting on the government's help. I am please, please asking for help. Please help me get this surgery, please help me with bills while I am off of work, and please help me give my sons a little Christmas. I would not ask and would not ask the public if I wasn't desperate. Thank you for reading.