Hi everyone, and thank you for being here. Writing this is incredibly emotional for me, but I’m trying to stay brave and reach out during a time when I feel overwhelmed, scared, and hopeful all at once.

For years, I’ve been living with severe, life-disrupting endometriosis — the kind that doesn’t just cause “bad periods,” but affects your organs, your energy, your mobility, your sleep, your ability to be present with your family, and your sense of self. In recent months, things have gotten even worse. After a recent MRI discovery, my doctor found that I’ve developed a pelvic wall mass that is growing into my rectum, as well as some of my organs are now adhered and stuck together, consumed by endometriosis. The pain is constant and unpredictable. Some days I can barely walk upright. Other days I feel jolts so strong they take my breath away.

On top of this, I’ve had years of complications from endometriosis — inflammation, tissue growth, scar tissue, and pain that spreads into my back, hips, and legs. I’ve lost weight without trying, my hair is falling out, I’m exhausted all the time, and my body feels like it’s fighting something every single day.

But the emotional toll has been just as heavy.

For a long time, I felt dismissed by doctors. I would explain my symptoms, how much pain I was in, how something didn’t feel right, but I’d be told it was “normal” or “in my head”. I kept trying to advocate for myself, even when it was humiliating and exhausting. Countless surgeries and false promises that it would fix the problem. But my symptoms kept getting worse, and I knew deep down that something was seriously wrong.

Recently, I finally found a specialist—someone who listened, who didn’t brush me off, and who looked at my history with genuine concern. After reviewing everything, they immediately scheduled me for surgery on January 7, 2026. This surgery is critical to remove endometriosis, fix my organs, assess and treat the mass, and prevent further damage. It’s my chance to finally get answers and relief after years of not being believed or receiving proper care.

But there’s a major obstacle:

My specialist is out-of-network, and the surgery is $16,000 — not including travel, recovery, or the additional specialists I’ll need afterward. I’m recently unemployed, and I don’t have the savings or credit to cover this on my own. I’ve applied for foundations, grant programs, and patient assistance, but many either don’t recognize endometriosis as a primary condition or have limited funding.

At home, I’m still trying to be present for my family while managing daily pain that can be completely consuming. My children see me struggle, and that’s one of the hardest parts. I want to be able to play, move, and enjoy life with them without wincing or having to lie down because the pain has spiked again. I want to be a mom and a wife who can show up fully — not someone fighting through every step or hiding tears in the bathroom.

This surgery could give me my life back. It could give my family me back.

So I’m here, humbly asking for help — something I’ve never been good at. I was raised not to ask for help, but I know now that I need to set aside my pride.

Anything you can donate, even a few dollars, brings me closer to the care I desperately need. And if you can’t donate, sharing my story truly helps more than you know.

Thank you — deeply — for taking the time to read this, for caring, and for giving me hope during one of the hardest chapters of my life. Your kindness means everything to me.

With love,

Gabby