Donation protected
Dear Friends,
My name is Carrie Ann and I’ve been suffering from a debilitating disease called endometriosis (aka “endo”) since I was 16 years old. I’m now 47. Endo affects 200 million women world-wide and of all ages. You likely know someone who has it. It’s when the cells of the uterus which are meant to exit a woman’s body during menstruation end up mistakingly traveling to other parts of the body where they implant themselves like deep-rooted weeds into bodily tissues and organs. They bleed, cause inflammation, and can bind up and kill vital organs in strong, spiderweb-like adhesions. Endo can cause intense pelvic pain (“killer cramps”), chronic fatigue, migraines, nausea, digestive disorders, painful sexual intercourse, and infertility. It’s often accompanied by auto immune diseases, and also increases the risks of heart disease and cancer (especially ovarian). It can rob women of reaching their full potential in academics, at jobs, in relationships, and motherhood. Loved ones watch helplessly while their daughter, wife, mother, or sister suffers in pain and gives up on her dreams.

I was finally diagnosed with endo at age 32 via an unsuccessful surgery. I have spent a lifetime struggling to get through each day of school, jobs, and relationships due to debilitating pain and chronic exhaustion. I’ve had endless trips to the emergency room. My pain sometimes feels like someone is twisting a hot fireplace poker into my side; like I’m passing razor blades with a bowel movement; like drops of molten lava are dripping inside me; like a rope stretched from my ribs to my hip is being pulled tight. The pain can get so bad that my blood pressure drops and I pass out. This pain is not “normal for a woman”, no matter what they tell you. Countless ob/gyns have blown me off, know little about the disease, and/or provided me with uneducated temporary solutions. Countless medicines have led to zero relief.

Feeling no hope in sight, I decided to do an internet search for endometriosis doctors/surgeons in the U.S. who specialize SOLELY in the disease and properly eradicating it. (I found only a few, and afflicted women from all over the world travel to see them.) I chose Dr Tamer Seckin in NYC. I read his book and flew out to meet him. After my exam he concluded that my endo is severe. It’s deep and infiltrating and I’m infertile. My uterus, ovaries, and appendix are terribly infected and need to be removed. The disease has spread to my rectum and has also bound some organs to each other. He’s concerned that it may possibly be spreading to my diaphragm, heart, and/or lungs as well so I’ll need further studies to confirm. My disease is continuing to grow and I need surgery asap!

So now comes the cost of the surgery and hence this GoFundMe. In April 2016 my mother had an acute stroke. I immediately flew out to Hawaii to care for her, leaving my life, love, and job behind in NJ. Mom had another stroke in 2016 and two more in 2018. I didn’t work for the first year in order to care for her. I later managed some part-time work, but I had already depleted all of my savings and retirement money. In the meantime, I had also accrued several thousand dollars of my own medical bills related to my disease. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m now financially defeated. Dr Seckin is an out-of-network insurance provider, so I’ll be responsible for paying an estimated $20,000 out-of-pocket (endo, GI, and cardio-thoracic surgeons; anesthesiologist, hospital, labs, post-op physical therapy etc). I have to pay this before the surgery. This is why I now hang my head low, swallow my pride, and humbly ask for your help. Any contribution is generous! Please feel free to donate through this website or through my Paypal account.
I am anxious to have this surgery so I can stop this disease from killing me! Hopefully soon I’ll be able to return to a pain-free, normal life!

If you or a loved one is suffering and would like to know more about endometriosis, please visit the following websites and share what you learn with family, friends, and doctors:
EndoFound.org
DrSeckin.com (also read his book “The Doctor Will See You Now”)
CenterForEndo.com
EndoWhat.org (also watch the documentary)

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Kindly share it with others!
My name is Carrie Ann and I’ve been suffering from a debilitating disease called endometriosis (aka “endo”) since I was 16 years old. I’m now 47. Endo affects 200 million women world-wide and of all ages. You likely know someone who has it. It’s when the cells of the uterus which are meant to exit a woman’s body during menstruation end up mistakingly traveling to other parts of the body where they implant themselves like deep-rooted weeds into bodily tissues and organs. They bleed, cause inflammation, and can bind up and kill vital organs in strong, spiderweb-like adhesions. Endo can cause intense pelvic pain (“killer cramps”), chronic fatigue, migraines, nausea, digestive disorders, painful sexual intercourse, and infertility. It’s often accompanied by auto immune diseases, and also increases the risks of heart disease and cancer (especially ovarian). It can rob women of reaching their full potential in academics, at jobs, in relationships, and motherhood. Loved ones watch helplessly while their daughter, wife, mother, or sister suffers in pain and gives up on her dreams.
I was finally diagnosed with endo at age 32 via an unsuccessful surgery. I have spent a lifetime struggling to get through each day of school, jobs, and relationships due to debilitating pain and chronic exhaustion. I’ve had endless trips to the emergency room. My pain sometimes feels like someone is twisting a hot fireplace poker into my side; like I’m passing razor blades with a bowel movement; like drops of molten lava are dripping inside me; like a rope stretched from my ribs to my hip is being pulled tight. The pain can get so bad that my blood pressure drops and I pass out. This pain is not “normal for a woman”, no matter what they tell you. Countless ob/gyns have blown me off, know little about the disease, and/or provided me with uneducated temporary solutions. Countless medicines have led to zero relief.
Feeling no hope in sight, I decided to do an internet search for endometriosis doctors/surgeons in the U.S. who specialize SOLELY in the disease and properly eradicating it. (I found only a few, and afflicted women from all over the world travel to see them.) I chose Dr Tamer Seckin in NYC. I read his book and flew out to meet him. After my exam he concluded that my endo is severe. It’s deep and infiltrating and I’m infertile. My uterus, ovaries, and appendix are terribly infected and need to be removed. The disease has spread to my rectum and has also bound some organs to each other. He’s concerned that it may possibly be spreading to my diaphragm, heart, and/or lungs as well so I’ll need further studies to confirm. My disease is continuing to grow and I need surgery asap!
So now comes the cost of the surgery and hence this GoFundMe. In April 2016 my mother had an acute stroke. I immediately flew out to Hawaii to care for her, leaving my life, love, and job behind in NJ. Mom had another stroke in 2016 and two more in 2018. I didn’t work for the first year in order to care for her. I later managed some part-time work, but I had already depleted all of my savings and retirement money. In the meantime, I had also accrued several thousand dollars of my own medical bills related to my disease. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m now financially defeated. Dr Seckin is an out-of-network insurance provider, so I’ll be responsible for paying an estimated $20,000 out-of-pocket (endo, GI, and cardio-thoracic surgeons; anesthesiologist, hospital, labs, post-op physical therapy etc). I have to pay this before the surgery. This is why I now hang my head low, swallow my pride, and humbly ask for your help. Any contribution is generous! Please feel free to donate through this website or through my Paypal account.
I am anxious to have this surgery so I can stop this disease from killing me! Hopefully soon I’ll be able to return to a pain-free, normal life!
If you or a loved one is suffering and would like to know more about endometriosis, please visit the following websites and share what you learn with family, friends, and doctors:
EndoFound.org
DrSeckin.com (also read his book “The Doctor Will See You Now”)
CenterForEndo.com
EndoWhat.org (also watch the documentary)
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Kindly share it with others!
Organizer
Carrie DeNito
Organizer
Waipahu, HI