I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. at 18 to pursue a career in Culinary Arts. While I found professional success, my health deteriorated as I ignored my body’s signals, accepting pain as "normal" for women.

Growing up, I was taught that painful periods were just part of being a woman. At 14, during a run, I experienced severe abdominal pain that brought me to tears. My brother thought I was just tired, but looking back, I now realize this was likely a sign of endometriosis. At 21, I sought medical help, was diagnosed with PCOS, and prescribed birth control, but it didn’t work. Instead of regular periods with intense pain, I had periods with no bleeding but still suffered the same level of pain. To make matters worse, the birth control triggered my blood pressure condition, which left me reliant on diuretics for life.

By 23, I was dealing with extreme bloating, ruptured cysts, and constant discomfort. Despite following an anti-inflammatory diet, the pain didn’t improve. UTIs, constipation, and daily pain became my reality. Doctors dismissed my symptoms, blaming stress, diet, and exercise. I pushed through, convinced it was something I had to endure.

By 25, the pain became unbearable. I missed work regularly due to the constant nausea, painful intercourse, and relentless abdominal and back pain. I sought medical help in 2024, concerned about my pain and my desire to conceive. The doctor dismissed my symptoms, suggesting diet changes and promising I’d be pregnant by the end of the year, leaving me feeling frustrated and discouraged.

After weeks of debilitating pain, I sought another opinion. Endometriosis was suggested, but the doctor refused an MRI. I began pelvic floor therapy at my own expense, which provided temporary relief. After another ER visit for a ruptured cyst, I begged for an MRI but was told I was “too young” at 27 to have endometriosis. Fortunately, my primary care physician agreed to order the MRI, which confirmed the diagnosis. I felt a mix of frustration, relief, and bitterness, knowing I had been right all along but had been dismissed for so long.

In November, I began working with a new gynecology team that promised surgery would restore my life. Desperate for answers, my husband and I agreed to surgery without hesitation. In hindsight, we should have done more research. I had an “exploratory” ablation surgery in December. At my follow-up, the doctor confirmed endometriosis but couldn’t tell me the stage or address my ongoing symptoms. He suggested I might have interstitial cystitis and recommended another surgery for diagnosis. I was given a bladder installation and sent home with the plan for bi-monthly installations to manage the pain.

We then traveled to Dallas to see a specialist, who confirmed that the previous surgery had accomplished very little. He suspected additional endometriosis, adenomyosis, and interstitial cystitis.

After that opinion, we sought an endometriosis excision specialist, Dr. Jose Eugenio Colon, at the Center for Endometriosis Care. We were relieved to find someone who truly understood, advocated for women’s health, and listened to both our concerns and future family plans. He reviewed my case, agreed with the previous doctor’s prognosis, and recommended surgery to preserve my chances of having children naturally, offering us hope.

However, we were disheartened by the cost estimate. Dr. Colon is out of network, and we need $6,000 upfront for his fees. The surgery itself could cost between $5,000 and $14,500, depending on the severity of my condition. This doesn’t include travel, accommodations, or post-op care in Atlanta. While we won’t know the full cost until after the surgery, help with the initial expenses would allow us to cover or finance the rest.

We’ve already shouldered much of the cost, driven by desperation and hope for improvement. Your support would help us manage the overwhelming medical debt we’ve incurred in search of answers.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for supporting women on this journey. My family and I are deeply grateful for the moments of hope we’ve found. The endometriosis community has been a source of strength, and every prayer, message, and contribution means the world to us. I will continue advocating for others in similar situations by sharing my story and raising awareness. 

Thank you for letting me share my journey.

With gratitude,
Maria