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I am hosting this gofundme for my incredible daughter Lauren Riffle. We realize this is a time when many are in need, we appreciate that you are taking the time to read her story.
After suffering episodes of intense pain for years, Lauren was given an initial diagnosis of endometriosis in 2019 (What is Endo? See bottom). For those years, Lauren was offered only ineffective treatment and dismissive responses from a healthcare system not adequately prepared to treat this complex and often debilitating disease. In the past year, as her pain became chronic, she researched and sought further diagnosis and treatment.
This January, further diagnostics revealed an endometrioma, confirming her endometriosis diagnosis and suggesting an extensive and long term pre-existing state of illness. The treatment indicated is surgical excision. Research finds expert excision performed by a skilled specialist results in removal of disease, preserved fertility, and little to no endometriosis pain, along with preventing further progression, possible organ fusion or dysfunction and/or other serious complications.
Here's the good news: Lauren is very optimistic and newly under the care of an expert excision surgeon. She has a surgery date scheduled! The challenging part is that the cost of surgery by her Out Of Network provider must be paid in advance. And, even though she has pretty good insurance, the her deductible for hospital and other costs will be great.
And that is why I am here, sharing her very personal story with you. Lauren and husband Bryan are among those whose finances have been hard hit by the Covid pandemic. This wonderful couple have been through a lot, both medically and financially, and they need our help for this urgent surgery and subsequent treatments to be possible.
As anyone who knows Lauren would expect, she has met the realities of this diagnosis with her usual sense of optimism and faith, and has already expressed desire to be an advocate for others living with endometriosis. I plan to join her in helping others with this disease, which I am only beginning to understand.
If you choose to donate, no amount is too small. If you are unable to donate but still wish to support Lauren’s journey, please share this link by email or on social media, keep her in your thoughts and prayers, do a kind act for someone else--we are all in this together, after all! From the depths of our hearts, thank you.
What your gift to Lauren supports:
-Surgeon. Full payment is due in advance. Like most specialists in various medical areas, her Endo specialist is an Out of Network (OON) provider and fees for surgery must be paid in advance. Lauren's OON health insurance deductible is $20,000.
-Hospital. Hospital fee, additional surgeons, anesthesiologist, etc. Her insurance will pay 50% of these costs once the deductible described above has been met.
-Travel: Airfare, car rental, overnight lodging. Recognized endometriosis excision specialists are few and far between. Lauren will be traveling to WA to receive the expert care she deserves. Fortunately, direct flights from SLO are convenient and fairly affordable, and her surgeon is just an a hour's drive from the airport.
-Post surgery care. Lauren has already been told she will require ongoing physical therapy to correct the damage that has already been done by her disease.
About Endo
One Woman’s Journey to Diagnosis
https://youtu.be/pss5MseKSKU
Endometriosis is a painful chronic illness. Often misunderstood or dismissed as simply “painful periods”, Endo is characterized by the presence of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrial-like) located outside the uterus.Endometriosis is not just a reproductive tract disease, but one which can potentially cause severe chronic symptoms throughout the entire body; including incapacitating pain, sever chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and endocrinology dysfunction and damage to multiple organs and tissues, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, diaphragm, muscles, musculoskeletal structures, nerves ligaments, lungs and liver. Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 individuals assigned female at birth and is rare in individuals assigned male at birth. Symptoms are often dismissed as “bad cramps” leading to an average 10 year delay in diagnosis. Studies by the NHS in the United Kingdom list endometriosis in the top twenty most painful medical conditions.
ALSO, if you or anyone you know is living with Endo, Nancy's Nook (nancynookendo.com and FB GROUP) is an invaluable resource and has helped Lauren navigate what is for many women a very painful, long and challenging process. https://nancysnookendo.com/about-endometriosis/
After suffering episodes of intense pain for years, Lauren was given an initial diagnosis of endometriosis in 2019 (What is Endo? See bottom). For those years, Lauren was offered only ineffective treatment and dismissive responses from a healthcare system not adequately prepared to treat this complex and often debilitating disease. In the past year, as her pain became chronic, she researched and sought further diagnosis and treatment.
This January, further diagnostics revealed an endometrioma, confirming her endometriosis diagnosis and suggesting an extensive and long term pre-existing state of illness. The treatment indicated is surgical excision. Research finds expert excision performed by a skilled specialist results in removal of disease, preserved fertility, and little to no endometriosis pain, along with preventing further progression, possible organ fusion or dysfunction and/or other serious complications.
Here's the good news: Lauren is very optimistic and newly under the care of an expert excision surgeon. She has a surgery date scheduled! The challenging part is that the cost of surgery by her Out Of Network provider must be paid in advance. And, even though she has pretty good insurance, the her deductible for hospital and other costs will be great.
And that is why I am here, sharing her very personal story with you. Lauren and husband Bryan are among those whose finances have been hard hit by the Covid pandemic. This wonderful couple have been through a lot, both medically and financially, and they need our help for this urgent surgery and subsequent treatments to be possible.
As anyone who knows Lauren would expect, she has met the realities of this diagnosis with her usual sense of optimism and faith, and has already expressed desire to be an advocate for others living with endometriosis. I plan to join her in helping others with this disease, which I am only beginning to understand.
If you choose to donate, no amount is too small. If you are unable to donate but still wish to support Lauren’s journey, please share this link by email or on social media, keep her in your thoughts and prayers, do a kind act for someone else--we are all in this together, after all! From the depths of our hearts, thank you.
What your gift to Lauren supports:
-Surgeon. Full payment is due in advance. Like most specialists in various medical areas, her Endo specialist is an Out of Network (OON) provider and fees for surgery must be paid in advance. Lauren's OON health insurance deductible is $20,000.
-Hospital. Hospital fee, additional surgeons, anesthesiologist, etc. Her insurance will pay 50% of these costs once the deductible described above has been met.
-Travel: Airfare, car rental, overnight lodging. Recognized endometriosis excision specialists are few and far between. Lauren will be traveling to WA to receive the expert care she deserves. Fortunately, direct flights from SLO are convenient and fairly affordable, and her surgeon is just an a hour's drive from the airport.
-Post surgery care. Lauren has already been told she will require ongoing physical therapy to correct the damage that has already been done by her disease.
About Endo
One Woman’s Journey to Diagnosis
https://youtu.be/pss5MseKSKU
Endometriosis is a painful chronic illness. Often misunderstood or dismissed as simply “painful periods”, Endo is characterized by the presence of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrial-like) located outside the uterus.Endometriosis is not just a reproductive tract disease, but one which can potentially cause severe chronic symptoms throughout the entire body; including incapacitating pain, sever chronic fatigue, infertility, immune and endocrinology dysfunction and damage to multiple organs and tissues, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, diaphragm, muscles, musculoskeletal structures, nerves ligaments, lungs and liver. Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 individuals assigned female at birth and is rare in individuals assigned male at birth. Symptoms are often dismissed as “bad cramps” leading to an average 10 year delay in diagnosis. Studies by the NHS in the United Kingdom list endometriosis in the top twenty most painful medical conditions.
ALSO, if you or anyone you know is living with Endo, Nancy's Nook (nancynookendo.com and FB GROUP) is an invaluable resource and has helped Lauren navigate what is for many women a very painful, long and challenging process. https://nancysnookendo.com/about-endometriosis/