Hi I’m Lorraine and I need your help so I don’t have to sell feet pictures!!

Jokes aside, I recently took a trip to Bucharest in Romania to seek a specialists opinion about chronic pain I have been struggling with. 13months ago I had a unsucessful surgery here and things since the have got so much worse. Pre consultation, I had and still have awful pain that is very hard to manage, to the point that I have ended up in hospital for pain management and as we all know, hospitals in Ireland are not fun places to be. My medical history involves being diagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia and more recently Adenomyosis. Any treatments I have had in relation to these has never resolved ANY of the pain. This pain is a daily issue and is now at the point where my quality of life is in the pits. My kids deserve a mother who is well in herself and back to doing the things she loves. I lost my employment and life has changed, unfortunately..not for the better.

Anyway, gone off track for a second, don’t want this to be all doom and gloom.

I travelled to Bucharest like so many Irish women are having to do these days. Unfortunately we do not have specialist care in Ireland for these diseases I have. I met the wonderful Dr.Mitroi who diagnosed me with so much more than I ever realised and the source of my pain may never have been Lupus or Fibromyalgia!! This has been a huge revelation and makes so much sense. I have endometriosis, adenomyosis and nerve issues.

It’s a relief to have the diagnosis and some answers finally but it comes at a cost and funds that I just do not have in my life right now.

This is where you come into play. I would be forever grateful for your help to get me in the right direction to get my life back. For me and my kids.

If you can donate, no matter how small, thank you.

If you can’t donate, but can share this with others, thank you.

Costs raised will go towards flights, accommodation, expenses and surgery.

Surgery will entail a hysterectomy for the Adenomyosis, excision of endometriosis in various areas e.g. bowels and complex nerve decompression to relieve the nerve pains.

I have been quoted about 11k to 13k for these procedures. And then there are additional costs for medical assessments and medications.

With the surgery I will need to stay for up to 10 days post op and that means the costs of accommodation needs to be factored in.

I am not CHOOSING to go abroad for this help, I would never want to leave my kids for so long, but I HAVE to. Sadly, we don't have the care I need here. I’m not the first woman to make this journey.

If you’ve read this far and you’re holding me in your thoughts, thank you.

More than anything, I want to be present for my children. I want to laugh again, the way I used to and help others laugh too. That’s who I am at my core. And once I’m through this, I’m committed to paying it forward in some shape or form to advocate for other women like me.

Love and Gratitude

Lorraine