A chance to reclaim my life after decades of pain.

26 years ago, after my hysterectomy, I looked forward to a long, healthy, and vital life. I thought I was stepping into the rest of my life. I didn’t know I was instead stepping into a long fight I never asked for. The pain I experienced before my hysterectomy came back. I live with debilitating pain every day and spend most of my life now managing symptoms and sheer exhaustion.  There are days when I can’t take care of myself the way I used to, and my world has gotten smaller because of it.  I was once active and loved to dance and swim, I was independent and had dreams of travel and owning a home, and maybe even a Harley! I had dreams of being active with my family, going on camping trips, and having a career.

Chronic illness has taken that from me slowly – so slowly I didn’t notice at first, and then all at once I realized how much of my life I lost.  It frightens me to think I will live the rest of my life in pain, not living but existing. 

This surgery is my chance to stop losing ground. It won’t give me my whole life back, but it can slow down the decline and give me a chance for stability, for better mobility, and for a life where pain isn’t the whole story.

The funds from this GoFundMe will help cover the costs connected to my surgery – the medical expenses, the travel required to get to and from appointments, and the recovery period where I won’t be able to manage daily tasks on my own.  This support will give me the chance to focus on healing instead of worrying about how everything will work while my body is working to heal.

If you’ve taken the time to read my story, THANK YOU. Truly. If you’re able to help, thank you for giving me the chance to reclaim some of my independence and my life. 

I never imagined I'd be here asking for help, but I'm grateful for every bit of support. Thank you for giving me hope that my life can open back up again.

And if you can’t donate but you share this or hold me in your thoughts, I’d be grateful for that, too.

-Karen