Hi, my name is Felicia and I'm setting up this fundraiser to cover the portion of the upcoming surgery that my insurance doesn't cover. The process to see this surgeon is lengthy, it has taken about seven months, and I found out the afternoon of December 20, 2021 that the date of my surgery is January 13, 2022 which is why this fundraiser is starting so close to that date.

 

A little backstory first, I had surgery in July of 2021 for suspected endometriosis after struggling to get formally diagnosed for over 10 years. Endometriosis is a common disease affecting 1 in 10 people with uteruses, but it takes on average 10 years to diagnose because it rarely shows up on any imaging, so the only way to get an official diagnoses is through surgery.

 

The suspicion was correct and I was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis (it's a stage one through four categorization). During the surgery, I had endometriosis excised from the majority of my pelvic area including infiltrating endometriosis on both of my uterosacral ligaments.

 

Also during that surgery, it was discovered that I have extensive endometriosis on my diaphragm and the left lobe of my liver with dense adhesions connecting them to each other and pulling my liver up in to my diaphragm and lungs. The surgeon was unable to remove any of that because I needed a thoracic surgeon to perform that surgery and he didn't have one with the capabilities to help him. It was also discovered during another surgery about a month ago that my liver has more than likely adhered to my stomach as well now, which is causing its own set of problems.

 

Fast forward to the present, I will have to travel for the surgery I need. My liver has to be detached from my diaphragm and potentially my stomach. If my diaphragm endometriosis is extensive enough, which wasn't able to be known during my first surgery, I will have to have it reconstructed with surgical mesh to make sure it has enough structural integrity. They will also be checking to see if I have any endometriosis on my lungs as well as going back through my entire abdomen, pelvis, and interior of certain organs to make sure none of the endometriosis was missed or has grown back since my previous surgery.

 

My surgery will be done by a wonderful team of surgeons who deal specifically with complex cases and unusual presentations of the disease. In addition to getting an abdominal and pelvic surgery, I will also be getting a thoracic surgery and healing time for this will be fairly extensive depending on what will have to be done.

 

I don't have many options for surgeons in the United States who are equipped to deal with a surgery on this level, so I have no choice but to travel and while my insurance does cover a large portion of this surgery, I will still be responsible for $8,500 to $14,500 depending on what is found during the surgery. The surgeon offers no payment plans and this amount has to be paid upfront the day before surgery, which is January 12, 2022.

 

This surgery is an absolute necessity and if you know me personally, you know how hard it is for me to reach out for help but I don't have many other options in this scenario. Any amount donated is helpful, even if it's $1, everything helps and is appreciated beyond anything I can express. If there is anything donated that goes over the cost of the surgery it will be used for post-care appointments, at-home medical supplies, physical therapy appointments and supplies, and any other necessities for recovery. Any money remaining after necessary costs are covered will be donated and split between EOD Warrior Foundation and Navy Special Operations Foundation.

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any donations and for reading my story.