End Jewell's Endo

Hey y’all!! Stepho here with a public service announcement: my best friend needs your help! I am starting this Go Fund Me on Jewell Leslie’s behalf to share her story and hopefully lessen her upcoming medical bills. Here is her story:



Nothing is more frustrating than having an ongoing medical issue, but what is more infuriating is when that issue is constantly brushed aside and misdiagnosed by medical professionals. For over a decade Jewell has been shuffled through different doctors offices, emergency rooms, and urgent cares who have not been able to pinpoint her as a candidate for endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic/lifelong condition in which cells similar to the endometrium (lining of uterus) implant themselves elsewhere in the body, wreaking both physical and emotional havoc.



Symptomatic issues began when she was a teenager, and have been occurring on and off ever since then including:


-Ovarian cysts that rupture causing pain comparable to childbirth
-Hormone irregularity and imbalance 
-Gastronomical and bladder issues
-Bloating which has caused weight shifts and a distended stomach
-Irregular and uncomfortable periods (birth control did not alleviate this)
-Fatigue which would cause her to nod off in both high school and college -classes
-Shooting pain to her left shoulder (which now has be linked to a warning sign of endometriosis)
-Chronic back pain which sent her to physical therapy (also a symptom of endometriosis)


For so long, doctors would not allow the term “endometriosis” into the conversation. After more than 6 years of going in and out of multiple ER’s, she knew that there was a bigger picture to this than just being treated for multiple ruptured cysts. The doctors were adamant that this was just a side effect of “normal menstruating pain” and refused to test beyond the ultrasounds. After more than a dozen ultrasounds over time, still no answers were given as to why the ruptured cysts kept coming back. It should also be noted that ultrasounds don’t have the ability to see or diagnose endometriosis, which has been even more frustrating that the doctors refused to dig deeper. 



Since being referred to by a specialist in the past few months, the last diagnosis has finally led them to endometriosis. In order to get her body through to the next step, she will be having “endometriosis excision surgery” which will remove much of the endometrial cells and scar tissue that has built up over the years. This laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard treatment and is the only way to reduce the spread of the disorder to her other organs.



Without this surgery to clear the scar tissue, her symptoms and pains will continue to grow, and may develop into a more extreme case leading to infertility or spread to her liver, intestines and bladder. 



SO NOW IS THE TIME! Let’s all help our girl out! Any donations are appreciated to help cover her co-pay for the surgery. Thank you for your time and your love!