Help for Holly

I am making this page on behalf of my beautiful daughter Holly, as I know despite all the heartache she is going through and has already been through, she is so kind and selfless that she wouldn’t want to ask anything of others herself.

10 years ago Holly was diagnosed with Endometriosis, following 15 years of horrendous periods and suffering from severe abdominal pain. She went to A and E with these severe pains and ended up having her appendix removed. It transpired that her appendix was healthy, but covered in endometrial tissue. This lead to gynecology appointments, and finally a diagnosis.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, yet there is still little known about it and the funding and support is limited. The harsh reality is that statistically the average diagnosis takes 8 years. Despite a common assumption, endometriosis is not just a “bad period”. To name a few symptoms: chronic pelvic pain at any time, nausea, fatigue, painful periods and infertility are among these. Many women are unable to work.

Since her diagnosis Holly has had 4 major surgeries to remove the tissue. The last operation had to be done privately, costing £8,000, as she had been unable to work for 3 years, and due to COVID the waiting list for NHS treatment was over 2 years.

During all the procedures Holly has under gone, it has transpired that her AMH level, which is the ovarian (egg) reserve, has dramatically and rapidly reduced to less than ¼ of what it should be for a woman of her age.

Holly has completed much research on endometriosis and it is clear that this is a common occurrence, and we are all incredibly frustrated that no one involved in Holly's treatment suggested that she do an egg collection whilst she was younger.

As a single woman with a low AMH count, Holly is not entitled to have egg collection on the NHS and so she has turned to private treatment at Bourn Hall. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever produce, and there is no way of producing more (increasing the AMH). Unfortunately, the first cycle was unsuccessful and Holly will now need to undergo a 2nd, more expensive and intrusive, cycle in order to attempt to force a better quality of eggs. Without a successful egg collection, Holly's chance of natural motherhood is nil.

These cycles have cost Holly everything, mentally and financially and she is broken. Holly is apprehensive about me setting up this page. However, I know any donation at all will be much appreciated, to help with the high costs of her treatment and hopefully assist in bringing about a positive outcome. Thank you so much for reading and helping if you are able.✨