Help Fund Daniela's Endometriosis Surgery (due next month!)
Donation protected
My Story:
Hello everyone, my name is Daniela and I'm currently pursuing a college degree along with many life goals I aim to fulfill. I haven't disclosed this to many, but for a big portion of my life, I've struggled with severe pain and mental frustration from a debilitating disease known as endometriosis. I knew it was bad when I started missing days back in high school and other life events, struggling to walk or cradling in my bed with tears from the pain. I'd be lying if I said I haven't had difficulty in advocating for myself. I've unfortunately been to many doctors who've invalidated my experiences, telling me it's probably just IBS or "painful periods". At one point I got on birth control just because I didn't know what else to do. After heavy research following my two years of using birth control, I discovered that hormonal suppressants are a means to masking the pain, but not a means to solving the progression of the disease. Excision-only surgery was the answer I'd been long searching for and is now the only means to improving my quality of life for the years to come.
What is endo?
"Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrial-like) located outside the uterus. Endometriosis lesions are different in both structure and behavior from the normal endometrium which is shed during a period. Endometriosis tissue can cause pain, infertility, and organ dysfunction due to inflammation, invasion into structures in the body, and scar tissue" (Nancy's Nook).
More facts:
-1 in 10 women have endometriosis (affects 200 million globally)
-There is no known cause of endometriosis but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease. Thus, women have a higher risk of developing endometriosis if their mother and/or sister(s) are also affected (my mother had it).
-It's associated with severe, life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and, in some cases, depression, anxiety, and infertility.
Why I advocate for EXCISON-ONLY surgery without ablation:
"Ablation surgery is common. This is a surgical technique that attempts to destroy (“burns”) the surface of endometriosis lesions. However, it can often leave disease behind under the ablated areas, and it also does not allow for tissue to be confirmed by a pathologist. Complete excision of abnormal tissue is the Gold Standard treatment and seeks to completely remove endometriosis (most often permanently) by surgically cutting out all of the disease at its roots. This method seeks to restore normal anatomy and preserve organs when possible. Recurrence rates are low when this procedure is done by surgeons skilled in identifying all forms of endometriosis and removal of endometriosis wherever it is found" (Nancy's Nook).
Costs involved for transparency:
Hospital Fee (in-network; covered by insurance)
Anesthesiology Fee (in-network; covered by insurance)
Surgeon Fee of $3,500 (out-of-network; not covered by insurance)
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-This specific fee, which I'm needing fundraising for, is a charge for the delicate expertise needed to perform this surgery from an excision specialist who views my health holistically.
-Unfortunately, insurance companies are only in the business of covering costs for endo surgeon fees involving ablation, encouraging the practice of a technique that doesn't fully remove the endo and keeps their pockets full of money.
Your contribution:
The total cost is due by the beginning of this December!!! Anything, even a dollar, would mean more than you could imagine. I believe that the Lord will provide and appreciate all of you! And please feel free to share this link!
Educational Resources:
Endometriosis Foundation of America
Endometriosis Association
Nancy’s Nook
SpeakEndo
Organizer
Daniela Frey
Organizer
Cleveland, TN