Help Fund My Life-Changing Surgery
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This has been difficult for me to put together but I've reached a point where I need your help.
In 2014 I was diagnosed with mild endometriosis. I've been bed-ridden anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks every month and my pain has been said to be more severe than that experienced during childbirth.
If you haven't heard of endometriosis before, it's when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus gets deposited and begins to grow in other areas of the body.
I'm not able to take my dog for walks on a daily basis. I can't see my friends and family most days. I've had so much trouble holding a full-time job due to severe pain. In the last 3 years, I've had to pay out of pocket for healthcare costs totalling over $40,000. Endometriosis is not considered a disability in Canada so there's no coverage for these costs.
I experience painful periods, severe chronic fatigue, heavy bleeding, prolonged periods, fertility issues, nausea, vomiting, bowel issues, bladder pain, chills, hot flashes and more.
I previously had a large ovarian cyst rupture, causing internal bleeding and impacting my left kidney, leading to 20+ kidney infections since July of 2016. I rely on antibiotics to survive, which have led to other infections, intestinal bleeding and fatigue.
I went into septic shock a few months after the infections started and that's when I started advocating for women's health, as seen in the video above, and began a women's health and wellness platform called FemEvolve.
The Canadian health care system has let me down throughout everything - I've been denied another surgery, going in circles from doctor to doctor being told that the only solution is low dose antibiotics - for life.
After years of searching for an answer, I found a specialist in England. My surgery is scheduled for October 13th, 2020 and I'm currently in England completing pre-op tests. I had some initial scans and tests done that showed that the endometriosis is not mild - it's deep infiltrating and is Stage 4 which means my organs are glued together and I have significant scar tissue and adhesions.
This surgery is not offered at this level of multi-disciplinary care and is now too complex to be treated in Canada, leading to me travelling during COVID-19 to England. Over 15 years of doctor's visits in Canada never showed me what I discovered after a few doctor's visits in England.
OHIP will not cover the costs of my international surgery, even though there is no treatment available for me in a timely manner in Canada.
The surgery will involve my reproductive organs, bladder, liver and possibly my lungs. I'm expected to be in England anywhere from 2 weeks to a month and a half based on what else is found during the surgery.
Without this surgery, my lifelong pain will continue to worsen and my risk for fertility issues and ovarian and breast cancer increases greatly.
I need to raise these funds ASAP to cover my hospital bills, accommodations, medications, further tests and scans and follow-up appointments. Any amount raised in excess of my expenses will go to endometriosis research and support non-profits.
Your contribution means the world to me. If you're not able to donate at this time, please share this campaign.
To learn more about endometriosis, you can read Issue 3 of FemEvolve here:
https://www.femevolve.net/issue-3/
In 2014 I was diagnosed with mild endometriosis. I've been bed-ridden anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks every month and my pain has been said to be more severe than that experienced during childbirth.
If you haven't heard of endometriosis before, it's when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus gets deposited and begins to grow in other areas of the body.
I'm not able to take my dog for walks on a daily basis. I can't see my friends and family most days. I've had so much trouble holding a full-time job due to severe pain. In the last 3 years, I've had to pay out of pocket for healthcare costs totalling over $40,000. Endometriosis is not considered a disability in Canada so there's no coverage for these costs.
I experience painful periods, severe chronic fatigue, heavy bleeding, prolonged periods, fertility issues, nausea, vomiting, bowel issues, bladder pain, chills, hot flashes and more.
I previously had a large ovarian cyst rupture, causing internal bleeding and impacting my left kidney, leading to 20+ kidney infections since July of 2016. I rely on antibiotics to survive, which have led to other infections, intestinal bleeding and fatigue.
I went into septic shock a few months after the infections started and that's when I started advocating for women's health, as seen in the video above, and began a women's health and wellness platform called FemEvolve.
The Canadian health care system has let me down throughout everything - I've been denied another surgery, going in circles from doctor to doctor being told that the only solution is low dose antibiotics - for life.
After years of searching for an answer, I found a specialist in England. My surgery is scheduled for October 13th, 2020 and I'm currently in England completing pre-op tests. I had some initial scans and tests done that showed that the endometriosis is not mild - it's deep infiltrating and is Stage 4 which means my organs are glued together and I have significant scar tissue and adhesions.
This surgery is not offered at this level of multi-disciplinary care and is now too complex to be treated in Canada, leading to me travelling during COVID-19 to England. Over 15 years of doctor's visits in Canada never showed me what I discovered after a few doctor's visits in England.
OHIP will not cover the costs of my international surgery, even though there is no treatment available for me in a timely manner in Canada.
The surgery will involve my reproductive organs, bladder, liver and possibly my lungs. I'm expected to be in England anywhere from 2 weeks to a month and a half based on what else is found during the surgery.
Without this surgery, my lifelong pain will continue to worsen and my risk for fertility issues and ovarian and breast cancer increases greatly.
I need to raise these funds ASAP to cover my hospital bills, accommodations, medications, further tests and scans and follow-up appointments. Any amount raised in excess of my expenses will go to endometriosis research and support non-profits.
Your contribution means the world to me. If you're not able to donate at this time, please share this campaign.
To learn more about endometriosis, you can read Issue 3 of FemEvolve here:
https://www.femevolve.net/issue-3/
Organizer
Christina Paruag
Organizer
Mississauga, ON
