Support Healing & Hope for Endometriosis

My Endo Journey: Why I Started the Endo Forward Foundation

I’ve lived with pain and heavy periods since I first started menstruating. For years, I was told that this level of pain, bleeding for 60 days straight, was “normal.” When birth control didn’t work for me, doctors just gave up. A nurse practitioner in college diagnosed me with PCOS, but when that treatment didn’t work, she too gave up.

When I was 18, I had surgery for a mysterious abdominal pain I was experiencing. We now know that this was actually my first endometriosis surgery, but the surgeon had no idea what he was dealing with. He removed countless lesions from my abdomen and even asked my parents if I’d been in a major accident due to the extent of the damage. That should have been the moment I got my diagnosis, but it was a missed chance.

For years, I spent so much time curled up on the bathroom floor, missing out on life because of the relentless pain. Doctor after doctor dismissed me, labeling me as “difficult” and insisting it was all in my head—just anxiety, or just my weight, or diet. I begged for a hysterectomy in my late 20s, but was told, “You’re not old enough to make this decision. You’ll regret it.” No one could tell me when I would be “old enough.”

Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I searched for "doctors in Texas who perform hysterectomies on childless women" and found a Reddit thread with a map of the US and doctors in major cities. I contacted one who agreed to perform the surgery. The outcome was stage 3 (out of 4) endometriosis and adenomyosis. I cried tears of relief—finally, proof that it wasn’t all in my head. But that relief was short-lived. Two years later, I underwent another surgery, with a traumatic outcome which led to new diagnoses: alopecia, liver disease, chronic regional pain syndrome, suicidal ideation, and menopause at 32. Life has been incredibly tough.

In the midst of all this, I decided to turn my frustration into something positive, and that’s how Endo Forward Foundation was born. It became my way of surviving the hardest year of my life, giving me a sense of purpose and hope. Our mission is to educate, support, and care for people going through the same struggles I’ve faced. Endometriosis has no cure, and many doctors still don’t know how to properly diagnose or treat it. Many don't even know the correct definition. 

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people born with a uterus, and recent research suggests this number might soon be updated to 1 in 7. If you have a direct relative with endometriosis, like a mother, sister, or daughter, you’re 7-10 times more likely to develop it yourself. This increased risk is linked to genetic factors, though the exact cause isn’t fully understood. Family history is one of the primary risk factors, and it’s a condition that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, leaving many to suffer for an average of 7-10 years without answers.

Through the Endo Forward Foundation, I’ve found healing I never thought possible. Helping others navigate this disease, connecting with people who truly understand, and creating a supportive community has been life-changing for me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

In just one year, we’ve accomplished so much—hosting educational events, creating advocacy materials, launching a podcast, distributing over 60 care baskets to those going through surgery, and so much more.

It would mean the world to me if 10 people could donate to my NTX Giving Day fundraiser. Every dollar helps us continue our work and makes a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Together, we can ensure that no one has to face this alone.