Healing for Dawn: Surgery and Recovery Aid

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to look at my story. My name is Dawn D'Amico. I'm a licensed massage therapist, an artist, a mom, and a grandma to three little ones.

I have recently had surgery to remove my cervix, some scar tissue, and a lump in my groin. All came back benign, thankfully! I was having significantly improved bowel movements (TMI, but I had major issues for a few years) with the surgery and relief to very persistent and intense hip pain that had been nagging me for 10 years. The surgery was a great success! I had lost quite a bit of work time already prior to the surgery with other acute health matters and then had to take time off again when this procedure was done in March.

Days before having this surgery, I found out that I need my Gallbladder removed at it is functioning at only 6% and contributing to my digestive issues and pain. While these could be coordinated surgeries, it was not enough time for me to loop another surgeon in, etc. So, I intended to wait until the end of the summer to have the second surgery due to financial reasons as I have to take at least 3 weeks off. That is, 3 weeks for a typical person of which I have learned I am not.

My job is very demanding on the body, all of the strength comes from my core, and I do 90% deep tissue work, 6 hours a day, 4 days a week. I work so much because I have to as someone who works paycheck to paycheck after many years as a single mom.

Having never had laparoscopic surgery, I highly underestimated the toll it would take on my abdomen. I was also not quite aware of the risks of standing on my feet so many hours post recovery, but I had to get back to work. Unfortunately, now 8 weeks later, my stitches pop and my rectum fell down to my pelvic floor resting on important nerve and blood flow and I am back to the pain I had before as well as the inability to have proper bowel movements, etc. and I am feeling much too fragile to work at the scale I need to. Not to mention the emotional toll that this has taken on my soul. I now have to redo my surgery to re-pin my anatomy and I intend to loop in the Gall Bladder surgery as well because I cannot do this again.

For this to be safe and effective, I need to take off a full month of work which means I need to get two months ahead of the game before I can move forward with my repairs. I would really appreciate any assistance so that I can get my body back to a pain free and functional specimen so I can get back to work and enjoy my future.

If you are an art lover, I am also offering textured original art and prints on my website Go Forward Bravely to go towards my cause.