After a decade of debilitating symptoms, medical PTSD, major life adjustments, increasing debt, lost relationships, and desperate conversations with God, I finally have hope. At the beginning of this year, I received a diagnosis of Endometriosis, giving me a clear answer for my symptoms and a medically sound treatment plan. This surgery could relieve my pain and give me the chance to truly live again. Turning 43 this year, I hope to enter my next chapter on a path of healing and renewal.

For those who know me, you may have glimpses of my health struggles, but for many, this story may be new. My name is Jessica, and I've spent years searching for answers—through several hospitals, countless specialists, invasive testing, and all the accompanying gaslighting. My symptoms were repeatedly attributed to anxiety or ovarian cysts that "shouldn't hurt that bad." Yet, the reality of my condition is anything but dismissible.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease, a battle that cost me nearly everything: my home, savings, quality of life, and sometimes even my will to fight. While some symptoms eased from treatments, the persistent abdominal and pelvic pain only worsened. By late 2024, my daily life was unrecognizable—severe constipation (lasting months), unrelenting fatigue, excruciating pain, all-consuming migraines, hormonal fluctuations, and vertigo have left me unable to work or function normally. At this point, I'm lucky to have a few days a month to feel decent.

After advocating for myself, I found Dr. Behbehani, a Reproductive Endocrinology/Endometriosis Excision Specialist, who provided the clarity I desperately needed. Through a pelvic ultrasound (she did herself), she confirmed that my right ovary cyst had once again ruptured but worse than it had previously. It was bleeding into itself, and I had significant blood in my pelvic cavity, affecting my bowels and surrounding organs. She believes my symptoms are likely caused by an endometrioma inside my ovary and Endometriosis suffocating my right-side bowels, likely spreading to other areas. As scary as all of this sounds, for the first time, everything makes sense—the chronic pain, hormonal issues, lower back pain, and frozen feeling in my lower body.

With all the supporting research and confirmation from others who have experienced this, my only solution is surgery. My surgical plan involves removing my right ovary, potentially my appendix, and excising Endometriosis and scar tissue from the affected areas. While I'm relieved to have a plan, the financial burden is overwhelming. My insurance won't cover Dr. Behbehani's fees, and the insurance out-of-pocket costs for the hospital are beyond my reach. Venurably, I'm asking for help because I cannot do this alone. 

Any money raised for my surgery will pay for Dr. Behbehani, the hospital, anesthesia, related pathology tests, my recovery, and my introduction to hormone replacement. This surgery is my chance to regain my quality of life. Your support could help me live pain-free, participate in the lives of my loved ones, and rediscover the possibilities I've almost given up on. If you can find it in your heart to share my story and/or contribute in any way, you'd give me the gift of hope, healing, and the chance to live again. Your kindness would pay forward a service of compassion that I will die fulfilling.

Thank you for believing in me. I promise I won't let your support go to waste :)