Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD) - Mina Bonocore's Story - An Invisible Illness

Oct. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- To see my full story and make online donations, please visit my fundraising site at:

http://www.gofundme.com/15nnb0


Adhesions…Imagine…Waking up every day in pain. An excruciating, stabbing, cramping, agonizing pain. Intense pain! The kind of pain that takes your breath away…all with no explanation!  This is what my life has become.

Out of nowhere, without warning. I am brought to my knees in deep, agonizing pain! Not knowing what else to do, I call for anambulance and am taken to the hospital. My life became a story of being in and out of the hospital, being poked and prodded, having more tests run, and nothing is turning up wrong with me. I was told “the test results are normal”.  I reached a point of desperately want something to be wrong just so I would have an explanation for what was causing this! Life is no longer normal for me. For more than a year, I have been in and out of hospitals, missing time with my husband, my son, my family, and my friends.  

Most days I am in so much pain I can’t even do simple things anymore. I barely have the energy or stamina to get out of bed in the morning, get dressed and just go downstairs in my own home. I can’t take care of my household. Even basic chores drain me of what little energy I can muster. I can’t play with my son like I used to. Field trips with him are no longer possible because of my pain. I can’t host play dates anymore. I can’t even do educational projects with my son, like teaching him his numbers, spelling, writing, and drawing. Even simple tasks now seem impossible.

Crying, nauseated, unable to eat anything! I can barely eat liquids. And my weight is dropping away at an alarmingly fast rate!  

All I wanted to know is what’s wrong. It’s been like a ticking time bomb! And the doctors can do nothing for me! I feel like I am slowly dying!  I am in constant pain! What am I to do? The question became…Give up or fight?

I chose to FIGHT!  I won’t give up until I am healthy again! So, I began to do extensive research. There had to be an answer! Internet research, medical research, alternative health treatments…I had to believe in finding an answer. Hope is my light! Hope is my prayer! I am a fighter! I am strong!

And then…just when hope was starting to fade…finally, an official a diagnosis! The doctors diagnosed me with extensive abdominal adhesions. Also known as Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD). This is a somewhat unusual illness. The doctors tell me these adhesions came from my past three abdominal surgeries. Unfortunately, they refuse to cut them or remove them because they will just grow back and get worse. Adhesions are like weeds! They spread like a spider web! At least I had a definitive diagnosis – now I had something to concentrate my fight for a healthy life on! A target called ARD! Finally! An answer!

Without surgery to remove them, I am afflicted with the painful and adverse side effects. Adhesions can wrap around and adhere to abdominal organs and intestines. Still, I hold onto hope.  I firmly believe that there MUST be a permanent solution! I am a fighter! I am strong! Now that I knew I have Adhesions, I began doing extensive research. And then, I found the solution! I found a doctor in Germany with a proven surgical procedure to remove the adhesions and prevent them from growing back. Finally a solution! So now what?

This doctor is my ANGEL…he is the answer to my CURE!! He specializes in a surgical procedure called Adhesiolysis. This procedure includes a barrier application that prevents further growth. This is the KEY to the CURE! Unfortunately, the barrier product is not offered in the US. Which is why I must travel to Germany for the surgical procedure. An answer to my prayers!

For more information about the surgical procedure, please visit: www.endogyn.com

So this is where I am asking for your help! The surgery that will bring me the cure costs $15,000 U.S I have insurance, but it will not cover surgery outside of the U.S. WOW!  With other medical bills adding up, I began to wonder, how can I afford this? I want my life back and this surgery is my answer!

It was suggested that we do some fundraising, which we have been doing! But we still have a way to go! I need your help! Fortunately, so far, we have been able to raise funds that have gotten us halfway there through the generosity and kindness of others! I owe it to myself to find a way and make a way to be cured! To reclaim my life again!  And I am so grateful that others believe the same and are willing to support me! We still have a way to get to our goal and I humbly ask for your help! $15,000 is our goal!  

It is sad that my 4 year old son knows how much PAIN can hurt his Mommy! He sees his Mommy in pain every day! He tries to hug it away, but no amount of hugs is going to fix this. Help me be a healthy mommy again!

My father should not have to care for me like he does. Bring me my liquids to eat, hold me during my pain episodes, care for my own son because I cannot any longer.  My father is always positive, but I know he misses time with my mother and living a life of their own. Help me be a healthy daughter again!!

My husband has to live with the guilt of leaving me every day to go to work.  Helplessly walking out the door, looking back at his crying wife in pain. Help me be a healthy wife again!!

What if it were your mother, your daughter, your spouse? What would you do?

With your help, I am one surgery away from my cure. One surgery away from being a healthy daughter, mother, sister, wife, and best friend again!

YOU have the power to help me have a second chance at life.  You can help heal me of this pain monster that lives inside of my abdomen.

With your help, I can be healed and healthy again! I am ready to live a life without pain again! I am ready to be cured of these adhesions! Your generosity, charity  and support will help get me there! Please Help me get my life back!!

I have booked my travel and surgical procedure with the faith and belief that the funds will all be in place in time. I am to have surgery on November 12, 2012. We fly out on November 9, 2012. For the first time in my life, I will miss Thanksgiving with my family and our son. This has been a difficult time and I believe that it’s all worth the short term sacrifice for a long term goal.

WAYS TO DONATE

To see my full story and make online donations, please visit my fundraising site at:

http://www.gofundme.com/15nnb0

Or to make a direct donation or ask questions, you may message me directly at:

minatamayo1@hotmail.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my story and God Bless you! Together we can make a difference in regaining my health and curing my Adhesions, my ADR. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!