Hi, I'm Syd

I'm a 20-year-old just trying to love life.

My journey started when I was 13 and was rushed to the hospital from school for severe abdominal pain, among other symptoms. All telltale signs of endometriosis, but it was not until recently that my disease completely disrupted my life and doctors believed me.

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue resembling the uterus is found elsewhere on other organs of the body. These lesions are mistakenly thought to only intrude organs near the uterus but can form on one's heart, lungs and or diaphragm as well. The lesions can cause extreme pain and inflammation and disrupt everyday activities as simple as getting out of bed. While there are different stages of progression, and each person is different based on the amount or location of these lesions, 1 in 10 women have endometriosis and in Canada it can take 7-10+ years to get diagnosed and receive pain relief. I have already been suffering for seven years.

Last year my disease took a turn for the worse and became unimaginably painful. Every month I'm in such severe pain that I pass out and vomit and must take hydromorphone meds. As of recently even these are not even strong enough to get me off the floor. The rest of the month, I deal with leg pains, heart palpitations, headaches, fatigue, severe bloating that makes it hard to breathe at times (characteristically called 'endobelly'), etc. I can't work on days like these, or go to school, or have a life in general.

I've been hospitalized many times, seen many doctors, naturopaths, physical therapists, I've been on referral lists for specialists for months, there's been no progress. Every month I feel like my appendix has burst, I'm being stabbed over and over in the pelvis and like I'm having a heart attack. I feel like I'm going to die... It's scary because in that moment, I want to.

After spending countless hours on the internet to learn all I can about my disease, I've learned that there is no cure. In Canada, the gold standard for treatment that most gyno's are trained in is birth control, ablation and a hysterectomy. I've tried the birth control route, a hysterectomy is not an option at my age and ablation does not completely remove the lesions. This causes many suffering to go through many surgeries (on average 7-10 surgeries in Canada). In my research I learned that there are endometriosis surgeons trained in excision surgery. A surgery where these lesions are removed at the root.

Unfortunately, there is very few specialists in excision in Canada and the ones that are, have 1-2+ year waitlists just to get an intake appointment. Most of these surgeons refuse to perform these surgeries on young women due to inexperience with my age group. So, my research and contact with others who have undergone similar experiences led me to Dr Sinervo at the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, Georgia; one of the leading surgeons in endometriosis excision surgeries.

After coming into contract with him, he believes he can help me with less than a 10% chance I will need another surgery later in life. He helps many Canadians struggling to get their lives back who can't wait forever either. I have hopes for a family and a career in healthcare; he's able to give me hope for both.

I am hoping to receive this surgery in July but the financial burden it has put on my family is something I never imagined I would cause. My symptoms are debilitating and waiting years to get help is hurting me more and more over time. Hurting my family as they watch me go through this. The cost of surgery is $20,000 USD, plus accommodations and flights for the week I need to be in Atlanta; it's become quite expensive.

I am saving up as much as I can, and I know my family is too. I was taught to not ask for money, but I need your help now...

If you can donate, I would be extremely grateful. And I hope I can return the favour one day! More than I can express, thank you for helping me get my life back.

I'm grateful for the connections I've made through this journey and to those that continuously support me and my health. Thank you immensely!

-Syd