Erika Ending Endo

Hi all! My name is Monica, and I am fundraising for my dear friend Erika. For as long as I have known Erika, she has struggled with Endometriosis. Prior to developing a friendship with Erika, I didn't know much about endo or how it could affect a woman - but I am learning so much about this horrible disease and seeing how it truly negatively impacts Erika's everyday life.

Erika is 1 in 10. It is invisible. It is chronic. It is life-altering. There is no cure or proper treatments. In fact, most women go years without an actual diagnosis, and the only way to diagnose endometriosis is to have an exploratory laparoscopic surgery.

For those that don't know, endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows on other organs of the body. If you were to google endo, you would gather that it might be uncomfortable, but it does not accurately display or describe how your life is altered. It is more than a painful period or infertility. Endometriosis causes adhesions, growths, scar tissue, inflammation, and chronic pain. There are days that Erika cannot make it from her car into her house and has to wait in her car for Steve to come to carry her inside, and that's just one example.

Endo is altering her life - and she has a chance for some relief.

After going through many doctors in the Chicagoland area, on November 4, 2021, Erika is scheduled to have her endometriosis excision surgery in Colorado. She has done so much research to find her perfect match for a doctor and the type of surgery needed. A doctor who truly wants to provide relief and understands all she is going through. And because her doctor is so highly respected and sought after, he doesn't come cheap.

• $1,000 - secure a surgery date

• $16,500 - surgery

• $10,000 - hospital

• Plus flight, Airbnb, rental car, care for her and Steve's personal and rescue dogs while in Colorado, care for her dogs for a month following surgery since she will not be able to walk them, and weeks of not working for both her (3-6 weeks) and Steve (3 weeks).

Regardless of having insurance or not, out-of-pocket costs will be $17,500. If insurance approves anything, it will only be for the $10,000 for the hospital fees. Erika and Steve have looked into all options for a year now. This surgery is the only option left for her to have a chance at a normal life again.

Many doctors do not know how to properly treat endometriosis, let alone stage four. The most common "treatment" is an ablation, this procedure worked in the past for her, but the endometriosis came back stronger and has brought on much more pain. Erika has stage four endometriosis, so an ablation is no longer an option. Excision surgery is the only option of giving Erika the best and, hopefully, most normal life again to start living and enjoying life - how she chooses.

Erika is the kind of friend and person that will do everything for everyone else and put herself last. She will take in every animal that needs her. She will be in your circle every step of the way. She fundraises for animal welfare organizations - hell, she even runs a non-profit animal welfare organization herself. It is our turn to take care of Erika. She deserves this more than anyone I can think of. She deserves to have her life back. She deserves our help.

Please help me get Erika the surgery of her dreams.