Specialist Surgery Abroad

Hi all, some of you may or may not know that I was diagnosed with a chronic illness a couple years ago. It's a pretty mysterious one called endometriosis, which the National Health Service (UK) lists as one of the most painful medical conditions. It affects 1 in 10 women, and a handful of men worldwide. It is basically characterized by an improper overgrowth of cells in the body (usually the pelvis, but it has also been found in other areas such as lungs and the brain) that grow on and into organs, cover them in scar tissue and bind them together to other body parts. The cells can also bleed internally. People can lose reproductive organs to this disease, as well as the appendix and even kidneys, in extreme cases. Medications may or may not suppress symptoms, but the cells often continue to reproduce and possibly spread. After much research, I've come to understand that the course of action that provides the most relief from this illness is expert excision of endometriosis with a highly skilled surgeon. 

I have been on a wait list for a surgery date where I live, in Calgary, for over 8 months at this point, and I was recently informed that I could expect to wait a minimum of another 9 months. Last January I quit my job because I could not handle working with the levels of pain and exhaustion that I was experiencing. I have been working on contracts since then, which allow me to manage my time and pain better. While I often don't "look" sick, it is because I choose the dates and times when I leave the house so I am feeling and looking my best (if possible). This time not working a regularly scheduled job has helped me to feel a little better, but I still have long standing pain on a regular basis and this means I cannot participate as fully in the work I'd like to do and I am not as financially stable as I'd like to be.

I know I need surgery to help me be able to function better, hold down a regular job and hang out with my friends more, and another 9 months is too long to wait. Given the complexity of this condition and the fact that it is a very misunderstood disease, even within the medical community, I decided to have expert excision surgery with a specialist in France who is a thoroughly trained gynecological surgeon and PhD trained endometriosis researcher. In mid October I will travel to France for the surgery and pay out of pocket for the whole affair. I am saving my money to help with the costs of travel, surgery in a foreign country, lodging, food, and medication while I'm recovering in France, plus the cost of lost wages while I undertake this endeavour, however, I'm not quite there.

Any help that you can extend to me is more than appreciated.