Hi everyone, my name is Naoko.

**Update**

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far.

I wanted to share an update on my progress. My surgery went well — it took about 4 hours, and the doctors removed nearly 10 suspected endometriosis lesions and stitched my uterus to help prevent organs from sticking together. My pathology results came back positive for endometriosis, and I feel very relieved to finally have confirmation and validation after struggling for so long.

While I’m incredibly grateful I was able to have the surgery, recovery has been more difficult and ongoing than I expected. I’m still dealing with pain, mobility and numbness issues, follow-up appointments, weekly PT sessions, and financial difficulties while trying to heal properly.

Thank you again for all the kindness, support, donations, and shares. It truly means so much to me during this recovery process.

Everyone’s continued support means more than I can express. I will keep my campaign up for a while as I continue focusing on recovery.

Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.

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I am currently undergoing treatment for endometriosis, a chronic and often misunderstood inflammatory disease that can significantly impact daily life. I underwent surgery on March 24 after a long and difficult journey to receive a proper diagnosis and care.

Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women worldwide, yet it remains widely underdiagnosed and misunderstood. There is currently no known cure, and diagnosis often takes years because the disease does not always appear clearly on standard imaging. Treatment often requires long-term management and, in many cases, surgery to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

I’ve struggled with severe periods for most of my life, but in 2024 my health began declining more noticeably. I experienced major hormonal imbalance, gained 20 pounds, and was unfortunately dismissed by an OB-GYN despite ongoing symptoms.

Since early 2025, my condition worsened significantly. I dealt with extreme fatigue, severe pain, worsening PMDD, multiple ER visits, ovarian cysts, and symptoms that affected my daily functioning. I was initially misdiagnosed with appendicitis, which is not uncommon for endometriosis patients. Despite severe symptoms, imaging often showed little, which delayed proper diagnosis and treatment.

Over time, my condition also began affecting my nerves, causing numbness and sciatica in my right leg. At one point, I relied on a cane due to pain and instability.

Finding a surgeon who could take on my case was challenging due to its complexity. I was initially turned away before finally being accepted for specialized care at a prestigious hospital in New York.

This condition has affected nearly every aspect of my life — my health, ability to work, finances, and independence. While I am deeply grateful to finally have received surgery, recovery requires ongoing treatment, physical therapy, follow-up care, and time away from work.

As someone living without family nearby, the physical, emotional, and financial burden has been overwhelming at times.

I am raising funds to help cover:

• Surgical and medical expenses

• Post-operative care and medications

• Weekly physical therapy and ongoing treatment

• Basic living expenses during recovery

My goal is to focus fully on healing and eventually returning to a stable and healthy routine.

Any support — whether through a donation or simply sharing this page — would mean so much to me during this time.

Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read my story.