Help Maddie Access Expert Endometriosis Surgery

I'm Maddie (they/them), thank you so much for being here! I'm a 26-year-old disabled, neurodivergent, queer, non-binary PhD student. I was first diagnosed with endometriosis almost 4 years ago after my first surgery, although I have been struggling with symptoms for over a decade now. In September I will be travelling overseas to undergo expert excision surgery (https://centerforendo.com https://www.instagram.com/centerforendocare; https://www.endometriosis-india.com/indian-centre-for-endometriosis). Unfortunately, there is no cure for endometriosis, although excision surgery is the closest thing we have. The true cost of this surgery could be almost AUD 100,000 and I am incredibly privileged and lucky to have parents that are willing to use their superannuation (retirement) savings to pay for me to access this surgery. Thank you for considering supporting me and donating, I am truly grateful and blessed to have a community full of people like you. Endometriosis is a systemic (full-body) inflammatory disease where tissue that is similar (not the same) to the endometrium (cells that line the uterus) is found outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is incurable, cannot be prevented and may be progressive. It has various symptoms including (but not limited to) pain, inflammation, infertility, fibrosis, cysts, gastrointestinal, urinary and other organ dysfunction and the formation of adhesions. Endometriosis has been found in women, men, non-binary and gender-diverse people and on every organ of the human body, it is not a gynaecological/reproductive condition. In my 26 years on this planet, I have done and seen many amazing things and places. I have travelled, had the opportunity to meet incredible people, gone on multiple journeys of self-discovery, loved with abandon, graduated with my undergraduate degree, and got accepted to a PhD programme I'm deeply passionate about. By all accounts, I have lived a full life, and yet all of it was/is possible only because I am supported by my parents and loved ones. In the background of all my achievements and experiences is a bitter and desperate fight against endometriosis and the rapid decline of my mobility, and physical and mental health. This disease has stolen my ability to drive more than 30 minutes without worrying about faecal and urinary incontinence. It stole my independence and mobility, most days I can no longer walk without a cane or shower without a chair. It stole being able to wake up pain-free. This year I was forced to take a Leave of Absence from my PhD because part-time study became too much for me and my health and mobility rapidly declined during the last few months of 2022. This is the second Leave of Absence I've been forced to take in my PhD and the 4th throughout my tertiary education. This surgery represents a very real chance at a serious reduction in my pain, and many of my symptoms, and is my best chance at being able to regain some mobility and to go back to my studies. For more information on why I chose to access care outside of Australia at a specialist centre please feel free to look at the following Instagram pages (https://www.instagram.com/endo_situation_aus https://www.instagram.com/endo_daddy https://www.instagram.com/invisibleiconic) and consider signing the petition on change.org to encourage RANZCOG to reassess the endometriosis guidelines (https://www.change.org/p/have-ranzcog-amend-the-australian-endometriosis-guideline). Thank you for being here, I appreciate you and am truly grateful to have your support. Maddie