Hi, my name is Maggie and I have Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, a hypertonic pelvic floor, and several other chronic conditions. They have been increasingly debilitating.

This is the hardest thing I have ever written. If you know me, you know I have always been a social, workaholic who is terrible at asking for help. But I need your help.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows in other parts of the body. It has been found in every organ of the body and even small amounts of disease can cause systemic inflammation and symptoms. The long list of symptoms includes, but is also not limited to, chronic pelvic pain, debilitating period pain, extreme bloating, stabbing in the abdomen, leg pain, chest pain, painful urination and bowel movements, extreme nausea, vomiting, and a whole bunch more (Source 1).

(Photo showing Maggie's "Endo belly" or extreme bloat).

Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) is said to be the most aggressive, painful, and invasive form of the disease. An estimated 1-5% of people with Endometeiosis will have DIE (some high volume Endonetriosis surgery centers see higher numbers). I have surgically confirmed Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis. The best option for my health and quality of life is to remove the disease (Source 2 ).

(A photo of Maggie after an Endo flare-up, puffy and exhausted).

I am in debilitating pain (8+/10) for half of every month. I completely bed (or couch, thanks to my crutches) bound and contemplating hospitalization for 4-8 days a month; I would probably go to the ER far more often if I could afford it. For the last three years, I have weighed everywhere between 80-120lbs due to debilitating nausea and vomiting 12+ times a day. I have been let go from multiple jobs, even one where I was the employee of the quarter, due to things like absences and fainting often on the clock. The limited income I make while applying for SSDI is from my book 'When I Bleed: Poems about Endometriosis.' All of my income goes towards my healthcare and rent. I have burns over my thighs and stomach from using too much heat to combat the pain. I have almost every major, common extra-pelvic symptom. I desperately need excision surgery - removal of the endometriosis lesions - by a trained expert.

(A photo of Maggie's stomach which is fairly covered in heating pad burns).

I need excision with one of the top specialists to regain some of my quality of life, especially bodily functions like using the restroom and being able to breathe reliably all month. I need a surgeon who can excise all pelvic disease also be looking for disease in my thoracic cavity, on my diaphragm, my ureters and bladder, and my bowels. I can count the number of doctors who can operate on my diaphragm on one hand (Source 3 - Find a surgeon ).

(Maggie's average day pain map. Maggie suffers from widespread muscular pain, nerve pain, spasms, joint pain, lymph node swelling, stabbing pains, and more; they tried to depict these things on an outline of a body).

If am not good at asking for help but I am desperate. If it weren't for my incredible family, endlessly supportive partner, creative outlets, and a rockstar therapist, I'm not sure I would have survived this far.

If you donate to this GoFundMe, the funds will go towards my medical costs. I will be putting money towards the deposit for my excision surgery by the end of 2021. My first appointment with 1 of 2 surgeons is on September 14th. Excision surgery can cost upwards of $15-25,000 if insurance fails to cover part of it. I will update costs accordingly after knowing more concrete costs. I also spend at least $500 every month on health care, and currently am forgoing many treatment plans due to them being expensive at this time. Some donations may go towards prescriptions, therapy, physical therapy, multiple specialists, and an array of miscellaneous one-time expenses (crutches, other mobility aids, TENs unit, etc).

(Maggie posing in yellow makeup with a yellow sign saying '1 in 10').

I would be incredibly grateful if share this post or fundraiser. Every share means more than you know to me. Thank you for your time today, and if you were able to donate: thank you so, so much. I cannot tell you how lifesaving this is for me. Thank you.