help-a-naebur: arts in health for endometriosis surgery

Gracious day, neighbors,

My prayer is that this message reaches you in good health and with hope. I am Dr. Shanae Rebecca Burch—an arts in health liberation scholar, public health educator, and performance artist—writing to invite you into a moment of community care and artistic healing. One of my nicknames since teen-hood has been "naebur", and as a deacon at double love experience church I spend time contemplating what it means to be a good neighbor as "naebur".

Three weeks ago, I received a diagnosis of suspected Stage III/IV endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Recognized as one of the top 20 most painful conditions globally, endometriosis profoundly impacts quality of life, particularly for Black women such as myself who often face delayed diagnosis and treatment barriers. After fifteen years of complaining of my symptoms and six years of researching surgeons, I've found an excision specialist in NYC who can help—but the out-of-network procedure costs present a significant barrier.

My surgery costs reflect three fees: hospital fee, anesthesiologist fee, and a surgeon fee. While my job-based health insurance will cover nearly all of my hospital fee and anesthesiologist fee, the surgeon fee of $21K is out-of-network, and my plan does not include out-of-network coverage. More has been written about the out-of-network rationale by other endometriosis specialists. With a total out of pocket costs of $21-24K, I am proud to share EndoBlack directed me to seek support from MomminWithEndo, and I have since received $3K grant from MomminWithEndo. They will continue to accept donations (that are tax-deductible) on my behalf and will pay the medical facilities directly once I reach my goal. I am prepared to personally contribute $3,000 from my income, so the remaining goal is $18,000.

In response to this estimated healthcare gap, I am now returning to my artistic roots to organize an arts in health benefit concert with my friends from Your Neighbor’s Backyard—bringing together myself with extraordinary artists for an evening of community euphoria.

On Friday, December 6th, the benefit concert will celebrate community coming together for art and health. This event embodies my research and lived experience at the intersection of arts, health, and community healing—where GriefLove exists in that space where there's no separation between words, where every breath becomes public health dreaming for personal and collective wellbeing. It is unfortunate to find myself under-insured and nearing when my job-based health insurance sunsets with my post-doctoral research position (12/31/24, but that will not be the center of attention at the benefit. Instead, the focus will be the ways we care for ourselves and one another, because I know I and the collective “we” will be alright if we practice giving opportunities for community to show up and care.

Bottom Line:

Total out of pocket cost of surgery: $21-24K

Surgery Deposit: $19K to secure surgery date

More than financial contributions to a medical bill, each donation represents an investment in my future as an artist, educator, and community organizer listening and creating healthful narratives that link art and health to collective liberation.

With reverence towards trust, vulnerability, and time,

naebur