Hi. My name is Mel Gurr. I'm an educator, an advocate for many social causes, and consider myself a professional friend. I have worked across the world on issues related to poverty, sustainability, and human rights.

Unfortunately, my once expansive world has gotten pretty tiny as of late, due to endometriosis: an extraordinarily common and extremely painful condition which has historically lacked funding and research. The only effective treatment is invasive surgery by a qualified specialist.

As everyone knows, US healthcare is a nightmare. Despite having excellent insurance, finding qualified expertise is challenging. As of 2024, my pain has become chronic and constant. I am at the end of my rope and have made the difficult decision to schedule a necessary, but potentially financially ruinous procedure on December 29, 2025.

The surgeon's fees alone are $6,500. But depending on the complexity of the procedure, it may cost twice as much. Because of the nature of endometriosis (often called the "enigmatic disease"), there is no way to know how extensive the damage is, as it doesn't reliably show up on imaging.

My last procedure, in 2021, revealed that my disease had progressed into the DIE variety. (Great acronym by the way. Very accurate). DIE stands for deep infiltrating endometriosis, which means the disease and lesions have spread beneath my abdominal cavity, where they found extensive nodules (e.g., benign tumors), along with growths choking my ureters, pressing on nerves, and penetrating my bowels. It hurts. It's expensive. It's painful. And I'm ready to end this phase of my life. The surgical plan is to excise the remaining disease and yeet my ovaries into space.

Endometriosis ruins lives, steals dreams, and makes women's worlds tiny.

So, I am asking a favor. Those who know me well know that I am a generous person: willing to give time, money, knowledge, really anything to folks when I can. In the past, my crowdfunding campaigns have helped to dig water wells, obtain water filters, and provide medicine to needy communities. Most recently, I've raised money to help finance websites, to fund FOIA requests, and have donated extensive time and money to make sure that survivors of institutional child abuse in the USA are heard.

All this to say: I am super comfortable asking people for help on behalf of others, but have never been in a position where I needed to ask for myself. That is a privilege. Once I regain my health, I can again be the helpful, reliable, communicative person I was before. I'll be happy to take calls, help imagine creative campaigns, and open my heart and home to others in need.

So. Can you spare a bit of cash to help a broken woman out?

Please feel free to donate here. No amount is too small.

If you are in SLC in mid-to-late January, once I can get out of bed and walk around (sort of), please join us at our party for a purpose downtown. We will have local musicians, dancers, and artists for entertainment. We will auction paintings, quilts, jewelry, sculptures, and many cool items I've collected in my travels over the years. You are welcome to bring something and bid on whatever is there. :) It should be fun.