"Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It's one of the bravest things you can do. And it can save your life."

A warm hello to the kind souls willing to take the time to read my story. Asking for help and sharing my struggles with this disease has always been very tough for me, but I've realized that not all battles can be fought alone. That said, I give much love and appreciation to my close friend who is helping me put this together and giving me the courage to do so. I am so grateful for all of those who have been a part of helping me through this relentless fight.

There is no definitive or straightforward explanation as to what endometriosis is because it’s such a complex disease that affects multiple organ systems without a proper model to utilize for research. This is why so many women suffer from this disease with misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all and are left untreated or treated improperly for years, allowing the disease to progressively worsen and cause irreversible damage, along with the chance of infertility. Sadly, this has been the case for me since I was 13.

My surgery is scheduled for December 22nd, 2022, and I am exhausting my efforts to accumulate the funds on my own accord to make this possible, as my existence is hindered by this disease more and more with each passing day.

I am currently drowning in debt from failed surgery performed on me in April. I have only been able to meet the substantial deposit for this surgery on my own. The total surgery cost will be determined post-op, but it is guaranteed to be a minimum of $21,000. This of course, does not include the travel fees to Atlanta, GA, the lost days of work for healing, and anything else involved for this to be a complete success.

This surgery will save my life in so many ways. With the expertise and outstanding care of my surgeon, Dr. Ken Sinervo of The Center of Endometriosis Care, I won't lose any of my reproductive organs with this surgery. This means so much to me. Any and all help would be met with extreme gratitude and gratefulness!

I have no expectations of this financial burden to be fulfilled in its entirety. I am humbled to finally share my story and grateful for any donation, as it will help me on this life-changing journey and lift some of the weight that is on my shoulders.

This disease has affected my mind, body, and spirit for far too long. It has been 20 taxing years of living with this disease, undergoing 2 unsuccessful surgeries, multiple ER visits, and continuously being unheard by many different doctors who only insist on shoving hormone medication in my face as the only option for “treatment.” This has left me hopeless and defeated time and time again.

My last failed surgery in April of this year was my tipping point. The doctors told me that my stage 4 endometriosis was too complex for them to operate successfully, and my only choice was to start intense hormone therapy, to then have another surgery in which I would lose half of my reproductive organs. I refused to accept this as my only option. I could not bear the thought of having to live with the grueling pain, frustration, and the strain it puts on my relationships and work performance any longer, only to in the end- lose an important part of me.

I respectfully declined their treatment and dug deep into doing my own research. After days of searching and connecting with others who live with this disease, I was fortunate enough to be referred firsthand by someone whose life was transformed by the treatment provided by the incredible expert excision surgeons at The Center for Endometriosis care in Atlanta, GA. I immediately reached out to the center and sent in my records for the extensive review process. After months and months of waiting, the time has finally arrived, and I am beyond ready for the brighter future this will bring.

I want to share this excerpt from an article called, Endometriosis and the Barrier to Care - by Jillian Gilchrest (link to full article below). This article sheds some light on why excision treatment is such a financial burden.

"Excision surgery is the gold standard for surgically treating endometriosis and is often highly effective at removing the disease in many of those who undergo the procedure. Although it is not a cure, most patients who undergo excision surgery find that their pain is significantly decreased long term.

But excision surgery is incredibly expensive and there are few specialists relative to the number of individuals experiencing endometriosis. The expense and limited number of specialists can be attributed in large part to the way excision surgery is currently coded.

A 1992 Medicare Part B ruling grouped removal of endometriosis via fulguration, ablation, coagulation, and excision as the same. All insurers base how they reimburse on Medicare tables which means that there is no separate code for excision surgery. If a surgeon is performing excision surgery on someone with stage 4 endometriosis, an individual for whom the disease is extensive and advanced, this surgery might last 6-8 hours. That surgeon will be paid the exact same by insurance as an OB GYN generalist who ablates less advanced disease in a 45 minute procedure.

As a result, most endometriosis specialists outside the academic setting, who have institutional backing and can’t afford to be in network, are out-of-network providers."

Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have taken the time to read my story. Your support and generosity are heroic acts of kindness that will undoubtedly make a difference!

An extremely informative and enlightening article by Dr. Arrington at The Center for Endometriosis Care:

https://www.facebook.com/100015523364836/posts/pfbid0Ai3FhLWEyPkgWPNnMx59UBxZXQHNorw6ZD5XYxjxC9pKoGA8Y64Mm9sx4QFBXFgHl/?mibextid=cr9u03

Endometriosis and the Barrier to Care - Full Article from excerpt by Jillian Gilchrest:

https://ctmirror.org/2022/12/07/endometriosis-and-the-barriers-to-care/?fbclid=IwAR2-os6svEFoqHrabTp14fCjCaUBr8cCO3P4qSjN2x0QPlKJt4Vulx7mH_g