Amanda Michelle Bisack
Growing up, I suffered from excruciatingly painful periods starting at a very young age. The pain was so intense that I’d regularly have to miss day one to two days of school each month. As I got older and became more serious in my dance and acting carer the fear of my painful periods grew with me. “What if I have a dance performance on day one?” “What if I’m booked for a commercial shoot and I’m in too much pain?” “What if I’m on a long-haul flight and the pain hits?” By 24, the pain had become chronic, accompanied by severe bloating and a growing list of other symptoms. Over the next eight years, I saw multiple gynecologists, gastroenterologists, acupuncturists, urologists.. you name it. I had MRIs, CT scans, colonoscopies, endless blood work—you name it. I was told I had IBS, just bad periods and nothing got better. It wasn’t until I was 33 years old and started having trouble conceiving that a gynecologist discovered a large polyp in my uterus, when discussing surgery I pushed for him to also explore endometriosis. He agreed to check for endometriosis during surgery, this doctor performed ablation surgery and he did find endometriosis. That surgery was ablation— the standard procedure most gynecologists perform and what is typically covered by insurance —but we now know it often causes more harm than good. In my case, it likely led to scar tissue that blocked my left fallopian tube, which we later learned was my dominant ovulation side.
Once it was clear that natural conception was likely not in the cards for me I saw four different fertility doctors, and it became painfully clear that many doctors—even fertility specialists— aren’t trained to properly treat endometriosis-related infertility. I went through five IUIs, three rounds of IVF and countless heartbreaks before I realized I had to take matters into my own hands. I came across EndoFound where I researched and read every bit of information on this website. I learned from EndoFound that I needed an Endometriosis Specialist and I needed to have my endometriosis excised. I finally had true hope. I found my surgeon through the EndoFound website and I was ready to finally get the help I so desperately needed. But yet again, there was another battle: her surgical facility was out-of-network, and she doesn’t work with insurance companies. We were looking at a $15,000 surgeon cost plus the hospital cost. For months, I tirelessly fought tooth and nail to get it approved. I kept telling the surgical office to keep the surgery date because I would do whatever it took to get this approved by insurance. Literally 48 hours before my scheduled surgery we got the call from insurance saying they approved the hospital portion of the cost. We still had to pay $15,000 out of pocket for the surgery, but we were ready and hopeful that this was the answer.
The outcome of my surgery was definitely more extensive than I expected.. our amazing surgeon Dr. Lora Liu found Endometriosis on both sides of my pelvic walls, on my bladder, on my colon and on my ovaries .. all which she excised. She also had to remove my appendix. And she found a 3cm fibroid on the outside of my uterus inside the cavity which she removed and stitched up. Due to mental and emotional exhaustion I decided to take a year off completely of any IVF treatments. This January I was ready and determined to start the family I tried to start 7 years ago.. in April my husband and I went through our fourth round of IVF and the first one since my excision surgery. I also found a new fertility doctor who seemed to have a better understanding of endometriosis and infertility. She suggested adding suppression therapy for three months before trying another transfer. It took four embryo transfers, endless hope, and an unbelievable amount of strength—but this time, something felt different… and it was.
How does EndoFound Help?
The support of other women who are also battling endometriosis, especially through a community like the Endometriosis Foundation of America is incredibly powerful and healing. Endometriosis is often an isolating condition, marked by years of being dismissed or misdiagnosed, so connecting with others who truly understand what you're going through can make a profound emotional and practical difference. Through my experience with endometriosis and infertility one major factor keeping me sane and hopeful has been the support of other women battling the same thing. Knowing you’re not alone helps counter the doubt and dismissal many women face from the medical system. Through EndoFound we gain insight into treatments, doctors, and coping strategies others have tried and trusted. And there’s real power in being seen, heard, and uplifted by people who get it. Being part of a supportive community like this can and does empower women to speak up and advocate for better care, for themselves and for others in the future.
A better future with EndoFound:
My greatest hope is that we continue to make meaningful progress, not just in finding a cure for endometriosis, but in ensuring that gynecologists are thoroughly educated on the disease and that women no longer have to wait years for a diagnosis. I hope insurance companies will recognize the urgency and necessity of covering the treatments and surgeries that patients desperately need, not only for endometriosis, but also for the fertility challenges that so often come with it. So many women battle endometriosis and infertility and yet so many insurance provides don’t cover either condition. Women deserve better. We dese
Lily Brooks O'briant Endometriosis Story
From age 13 until my surgery at age 17 I missed out on so much of regular teenage life spending 7-10 days each month in debilitating pain, constant nausea, hours in a hot bath & laying in tears vomiting on the bathroom floor. At age 15 while filming a TV show called ‘Life By Ella’ on APPLE TV+ about a girl recovering from cancer I remember having an endometriosis flare up. I was in the worst pain that I could have imagined but I told myself I had to push through the pain because everyone was counting on me. I was curled in a ball on the floor but when they called action I had to wipe my tears & act. Endo has impacted every area of my life. Work, friends, family, romantic relationships.
At age 13 I saw a gynecologist after I passed 8-10 kiwi sized blood clots. She said that was not exactly normal but it would be fine. At age 15 my pediatrician was convinced I had an eating disorder because I lost so much weight because the intense pain caused tremendous nausea. The therapist said no it's a pain disorder - what is causing her pain, the allergist said I wasn’t allergic to anything, the gynecologist only mentioned endometriosis after my mom questioned if that could be the cause. She said “well the only way to determine is surgery & you don’t want to do that do you?” The first endo specialist I saw told me I would have to just live with this pain for the rest of my life.
Endometriosis is something that controlled my life for so long. After years of pain going undiagnosed and feeling crazy, I feel so grateful to say that I have found an incredible and supportive community through the Endometriosis Foundation of America. I also feel so secure knowing that the Endo found and Dr. Seckin are working hard to raise awareness and learn more about this disease.
How does Blossom Ball and fundraising for endometriosis give you hope?/what it means to you?- I am so incredibly grateful for EndoFound. It was the first place I felt like someone really understood my journey & gave me support. Blossom Ball gives me tremendous HOPE. Having an event like the blossom ball allows for me and other women like me to feel seen and heard by our community. It also is so inspiring hearing all of these amazing women’s stories. Through EndoFound, I have a support system. Iso helpful because no one seems to talk about Endometriois. I saw 5 doctors before Endo was mentioned & it was because my mom pushed.
I am hopeful for the possibility of a cure in the near future and fundraising is so important to be able to achieve that. I would have given anything for a cure and I hope that it comes sooner than later so that no one has to go through this pain.
Nicole Ferrer Endometriosis Story
My name is Nicole and I was diagnosed with endometriosis in October 2023 after undergoing exploratory laparoscopic surgery with Dr. Seckin, Dr. Chu, and the team. I got my first period when I was 13 years old which was always extremely painful and debilitating, to the point that I had to miss out on both school and personal life events. I was told that painful periods were "normal" and spent the next 10 years managing my symptoms as best as I could with over-the-counter medication, believing that was my baseline. In January of 2023, I began experiencing consistent abdominal pain among other symptoms that severely decreased my quality of life. I spent the next several months pursuing multiple specialists, researching different conditions, and experimenting with an array of medication hoping to find something that would give me answers to alleviate my pain. I finally came across Endofound through a girl I had attended middle school with. She shared her story on Facebook, sharing her entire experience with Dr. Seckin and Endofound. From that point on, I was educated about endometriosis, finally received a diagnosis, and was able to join a community of patients who share the same condition. My surgery has changed my life for the better, and I’m finally able to pursue a career in healthcare (a lifelong dream of mine) but also live my life feeling more in control of my health.
As a patient and aspiring healthcare provider, Blossom Ball is a symbol of innovation and inspiration. While endometriosis currently has no cure, knowing that there are so many individuals who are willing to contribute to researching this disease is a testimony of faith in medicine. It’s a beacon of light that will ultimately pave the way for thousands of patients who have suffered in silence. Blossom Ball is significant because of its promise: that we, as patients, do not walk alone in this journey with endometriosis. There is strength in vulnerability, empowerment in knowledge and education, and most importantly, hope for the future. A future where endometriosis can no longer be defined as a chronic condition. I am incredibly grateful for the fundraising that Blossom Ball does and I am so excited to see its impact on endometriosis in the future.
Sophie Slutsky Endometriosis Story
I was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 24 after suffering from debilitating period pain for nine years. Even though I was in enough pain to be prescribed pain killers as a teenager, my gynecologist at the time did not consider endometriosis as a cause. He didn’t think of endometriosis at all, and wrongfully dismissed my theory by claiming I was “too young” to have this disease. This doctor and the numerous other gynecologists I saw on my long road to finding an endometriosis specialist, either didn’t think I had endometriosis or didn’t think doing the surgery to find out was “worth it”. Worth it?
I’ve experienced pain so bad that I would collapse in the bathroom, laying alone on cold tiled floors in a pool of my own sweat. During these episodes, where my pain medication didn’t kick in, I’d talk myself through pain so extreme by repeating the mantra “Sophie, you can endure any amount of pain for the next hour.” I’d repeat it every hour. That is survival mode.
It wasn’t until the day before my endometriosis excision surgery that I really understood the severity of the pain I had been living with for so long. At my pre-op appointment, I learned that the prescription pain killer I had been taking for my period pain was the same drug I would soon be prescribed to manage my post-op pain. This was an “ah ha” moment for me: the pain of serious surgery can be likened to my period pain. Imagine experiencing the pain of serious surgery every month for nine years. Now imagine being told that amount of pain is normal.
Painful periods, pelvic pain, painful urination, painful ovulation, painful intercourse, painful bloating-- none of these symptoms are normal and all of them were signs of endometriosis progressively ravaging my body.
My story, like every endo warrior’s story, is riddled with the medical trauma of being dismissed and disregarded. Each one of us has had to fight tirelessly, through unimaginable pain, to seek answers and receive proper care. We live in a world where the pain of endo warriors is simultaneously normalized and diminished. This must change. We are worth it.
The Blossom Ball is a beautiful night celebrating the amazing surgeons, researchers, patients, and allies who fight every day to better the lives of those with endometriosis. But, even more than that, the Blossom Ball is an opportunity to raise money to help find the cause and the cure for this progressive, debilitating disease. As a patient, my future health is dependent on the generous, beneficent people in this room; I’m deeply moved by the care and the passion of everyone who opens their hearts and their wallets to help create a healthier future for women like me.
The Blossom Ball is a night of adding timber to the fire of hope, and I hope my story sparks something in you. So, let’s get fired up! Together, we will find a cure.
Winnie Chan
Ureter, Colorectal – Multi Organ Endometriosis Patient
Licensed Acupuncturist | NYC
Owner of WinnieCares.com
I was diagnosed with endometriosis at 16 and spent 15 years on birth control pills that never fully controlled the pain. By 27 years old, I was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital for an emergency 9-hour surgery involving ureter resection—leaving me with only 25% kidney function. Six months later, I faced a second, even more intense 13-hour multi-organ surgery. I woke up surrounded by tubes, with a colostomy bag and urine catheter—utterly changed, physically and emotionally. Endometriosis took so much from me, but it also gave me purpose.
I became a licensed acupuncturist specializing in endometriosis and fertility—not just to manage my own pain, but to help others reclaim their lives from this disease. My practice is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and a deep understanding of what it means to live with invisible illness.
Being featured at the Blossom Ball means the world to me. This event isn’t just a fundraiser—it’s a powerful act of visibility. For so long, I felt isolated in my pain. Tonight, I feel seen. Fundraising for endometriosis gives me hope that the next generation won’t have to endure what so many of us have. It paves the way for research, education, and one day, a cure.
I know what it feels like to be dismissed, misunderstood, and desperate for answers.
That’s why the Blossom Ball means so much to me. Every dollar raised brings us one step closer to answering the two questions every person with endometriosis asks: What causes this—and how do we cure it? Right now, we don’t know. And that uncertainty can feel crushing. Fundraising supports the research that will uncover the clues we need to understand this disease at its root—not just manage symptoms, but eliminate them.
Tonight gives me hope—not just for myself, but for every person still searching for answers.
Feel free to read more about my story on Endofound.
To book an acupuncture treatment to managing endometriosis symptoms and pain, you can find me at WinnieCares.com
