Help Caitlin Bridges-Bezy Access Urgent Life-Saving Surgery

Dear friends and compassionate strangers,

My name is Meredith, I am reaching out on behalf of my dear friend, Caitlin, who's in the fight of her life against stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis. This chronic disease has severely affected Caitlin’s entire body, and requires an urgent and major surgery with a highly specialized medical team in New York. Caitlin’s condition has become critical, and her illness has escalated to a life-threatening point. Doctors have set a surgery goal of no later than July.

This GoFundMe aims to rally support and raise the required funds that will enable Caitlin to access the multiple life-saving procedures, vital to her treatment and recovery.

About Caitlin

Caitlin is a devoted wife and an exceptional mother to a wonderful 5.5-year-old daughter, who is multiply neurodivergent. To me, Caitlin is the definition of the words grace, optimism, and resilience.

After becoming disabled, Caitlin lost the ability to keep her job, though her family depended on two incomes to maintain the expenses of the household. Caitlin’s husband, Daniel, has been an unwavering support, at one point working two full-time jobs simultaneously to keep the family afloat. Despite his efforts, the financial strain has been overwhelming. The pandemic, inflation, and numerous medical expenses have only added to their challenges.

A trauma survivor, and victim of complex PTSD, Caitlin was deemed permanently disabled shortly after having her daughter, but she only arrived at her diagnosis for this after thoroughly exhausting every avenue, in search of answers and relief to her physical symptoms. Now, nearly six years later, after undergoing countless tests and having been seen by over 35 doctors and specialists, Caitlin finally found the answer to her lingering question after meeting with a highly specialized team of surgeons in New York. It revealed endometriosis to be at the root of it all.

In addition to these extremely painful conditions, Caitlin also suffers from a multitude of allergies so severe, that her diet has been strictly reduced to nothing but steak, salt and watermelon. She has diligently adhered to this incredibly limited diet for nearly two consecutive years now, after previously experiencing chronic states of anaphylaxis. But even these drastic measures have not spared her from suffering ongoing allergic reactions to elements unknown. Only recently was the link between such excessive allergic responses and endometriosis revealed.

Caitlin now requires major surgery as soon as possible, in the form of deep excision, to fully remove all endometriosis throughout her body, as well as a hysterectomy, to prevent future growth of the disease.

The Urgent Need for Immediate Care

Caitlin's condition has recently deteriorated. The endometriosis has engulfed her organs so severely at this point, that she can hardly eat without vomiting or suffering from excruciating abdominal pain. She has described this sensation as being akin to swallowing a handful of nails or shards of glass. It has also affected her nerves, causing severe bilateral sciatica, instability, and extreme numbness throughout her body; at times rendering her unable to walk.

The only effective immediate relief she has found is through acupuncture. This treatment is vital to bridge the gap until her surgery, but it is not covered by insurance. We are urgently raising funds to ensure Caitlin can continue receiving this life-saving care.

After exhaustive research on the topic of endometriosis, Caitlin specifically sought out the care of Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu from The Seckin Endometriosis Center in New York, who specialize in deep excision and handle some of the most advanced cases in the world. 

Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness and understanding of the severity and capabilities of this disease, true specialists in the field of endometriosis are incredibly rare. Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu are among very few specialists in the world, making their expertise crucial for Caitlin’s condition.

This is extremely important to note, as Caitlin previously underwent an endometriosis ablation surgery fifteen years ago, and tragically, became the victim of horrific medical malpractice in the process.

Medical Mistreatment

Caitlin was told by her previous surgeon, that she needed laparoscopic ablation* surgery to remove a dangerous cyst caused by endometriosis, which would otherwise risk rupturing and spreading the disease. Post-operation, the doctor claimed the surgery was successful and that she had removed the cyst and found minimal endometriosis.

*It is now known that ablation—which involves burning tissue with a laser—causes more harm than good to the surrounding healthy tissue within the body, and fails to fully remove the endometriosis itself.

But to make matters worse, during Caitlin’s initial consultation with Dr. Chu this spring, she discovered discrepancies between Caitlin’s account of her previous surgical experience, and the data found on her actual surgical and pathology reports. Shockingly, Caitlin’s previous surgeon had left the cyst intact, and had merely lanced it, spreading the disease further. The pathology report revealed that NO endometriosis was removed, and that Caitlin was actually already in stage 4 of the disease at that time (15 years ago), with multiple organs compromised, and as far spread as her bowels and liver.

Dr. Chu explained that the previous surgery not only failed to remove any endometriosis, it also worsened Caitlin's condition. Caitlin left that surgery thinking she was healthy—because that is what she had been told. These injustices delayed her correct diagnosis and treatment for years, with devastating consequences to her health and wellbeing.

Given the urgent nature of Caitlin’s current condition, Dr, Chu has set the goal for Caitlin to have her surgery this June or July—at the latest, making our fundraising efforts imperative, as the surgery and trip out of state will otherwise be unattainable for Caitlin and her family at this time.

The Cost

The surgery Caitlin needs is out-of-network and out-of-state, and the associated costs are substantial. We are raising funds to cover:

• A down payment to secure a date for the surgery 
• The upfront payment due on the day of surgery
• The surgery itself
• Travel expenses to New York
  
• 18 days of lodging in New York for Caitlin and her caregiver/s during her initial recovery period 
  
• Ongoing medical expenses and aftercare following the surgery
  
• Acupuncture treatments to manage her symptoms until the surgery.
  
• 8 weeks of unpaid time off work for her husband, who needs to personally care for their autistic daughter for the duration of Caitlin’s recovery
  

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Thank you for taking the time to read Caitlin's story and for any support you can provide.

Your generosity can make a profound difference in Caitlin's life. By coming together, we can help Caitlin get the surgery she desperately needs and support her family through this incredibly challenging time.