Happy 18th birthday you've got Endometriosis!

You could say I've had a tough journey with my health, finding out at 10 years old that I had a serious bladder condition called Cystitis Cystica. While battling this condition I began to get the most painful periods a 13 year old could imagine, as well as other unexplainable symptoms. Something no normal painkiller could touch. Missing weeks of school, dance and work at a time I had had enough of the pain and the bladder problems. It got so bad I wouldn't be able to move, I would be on a fetal position on the floor throwing up.

After many years of appointments, medication and surgeries I finally beat the bladder condition. Since then I've still been struggling with the same symptoms the condition gave me, the painful periods never stopped.

A week after my 18th birthday my gynecologist confidently diagnosed me with suspected Endometriosis, Chronic pelvic pain and Painful bladder syndrome (PBS). My scan showed that the endo has caused displacement of certain organs. This gave me peace of mind that my symptoms were not normal, and were in fact connected to each other. 1 in every 10 girls and women in New Zealand will get Endometriosis in their lifetime. We've been given a surgery date, but we unfortunately do not have $20,000. Going through the public system could take years and possible deterioration over time. It would mean the absolutely world to me if you could help me begin my journey to fight endometriosis, something not every woman diagnosed gets the ability to do.