Hi, my name is Emery. I am a 19-year-old girl who loves Jesus, my family, life, and adventure. Unfortunately, I have suffered from Endometriosis for over seven years.

Endometriosis is a disease in which wayward tissue resembling that found in the uterus forms cysts and lesions-mostly near organs in the pelvis, but sometimes as far as the heart or the lungs. The lesions cause inflammation and extreme pain. Sharp, stabbing, shooting, pulling, twisting, and burning is what it can feel like. An estimated 1 in 10 women has this disease.

February 2021, my health declined dramatically. I had a sudden weight loss. I have suffered from severe daily pain, malabsorption, dehydration, bloating, nausea/vomiting, SIBO, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, fatigue, eczema, migraines, high heart rate, blood clots, etc. My life came to a screeching halt. I was unable to work or go to post-secondary school.

I have been hospitalized several times, feeling like I need my appendix removed, a heavy chest, making it hard to breathe, thinking I had a heart attack. It's been scary, wondering if I would live through it.

My mom and I have done lots of research, joined support groups, and have prayed a lot. We are so grateful for the internet and its fantastic resources. I have had appointments with four gynecologists in Calgary. They have encouraged birth control and synthetic hormones with adverse side effects that can cause bone loss and depression. These medications are not meant to be used for more than two years. I took a Loestrin and felt suicidal, and it did not help manage my painful symptoms. I think these methods are a bandaid. Endometriosis left untreated is dangerous. It can cause infertility and organs to fuse and fail.

There is no cure for endometriosis, but there is a standard gold treatment of excision to improve quality of life. It removes the endometriosis lesions at the root. An excellent article to read about this is linked here. https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prevention.com%2Fhealth%2Fhealth-conditions%2Fa38764033%2Fendometriosis-treatment-surgery%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3heAntGf2-ER0YdRqYgxc9LQUTxkCOHYplNa_PU9sH7PTdnzyRx5h7hco&h=AT2YqlCcTzBpzdHfbyFbA1az_r1NZNaWRfAzBtXyFf7S9f-GpEJLIflvGCYPvNnh1moxJUI9RgYFxLo6UlDtBkT407CzxW2Zum26rPIW-MfPnCb_24j4VG6S9ITvE-WAmcnWkQVZ8T8pjaUiM-4

There are many gynecologists, but very few are specialists in endometriosis. Therefore, it is essential to find an endometriosis specialist to perform the excision surgery. Unfortunately, two of the gynecologists I have seen are specialists in endo but would not agree to perform surgery, telling me I am too young.

I have been managing my symptoms through weekly acupuncture appointments, vitamins iv's at the naturopath, and chiropractic visits. While these things are helpful, they are not enough for the quality of life I am seeking. I have goals to help people and want to have a family. However, I feel my illness is inhibiting me.

We became familiar with Dr. Sinervo from Atlanta, Georgia, in our research. He specializes in excision surgery. He also specializes in thoracic and diaphragmatic endometriosis where the tissue can be present in the chest cavity and diaphragm. According to my symptoms, this is something I may have, especially coughing up blood during menses.

I had a free case review with Dr. Ken Sinervo. https://centerforendo.com/dr-ken-sinervo-1 He is willing to perform excision surgery through laparoscopy to check my pelvic organs, and a VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) will check my lungs and diaphragm. He said very few doctors in Canada have experience with thoracic endo. The ones that do live in Ontario with a two-year waiting list.

Dr. Sinervo is a kind and caring health professional that wants to help patients have a better quality of life. As a result, 85% of Dr. Sinervo's patients don't need another surgery and have improved quality of life, leaving them virtually free of painful symptoms.

I would like to have the surgery this summer. My mom will take me then, and I will have just graduated from my health care aid schooling. I plan on taking the summer to recover and then begin working as a health care aid and further my education to become an LPN.

My mother is a single mom working more than she ever has. She has been financially supporting my medical treatments. I also have extended family helping with our cost of living. I am so grateful to them all. I don't want my mom to go into debt to pay for this surgery. I don't have insurance to cover the cost. The surgeon fee is $11,500 US dollars. There will also be the cost of the hospital stay. I have a little bit of money saved, and I am trying to find additional sources of income.

If you can donate, I would be so grateful. I hope to pay this forward one day by spreading awareness and possibly giving what I can to other women with this challenging disease.

Most of all, I thank God every day for guiding me in this journey of life! I can see his hand in all things.

Thank you!