Suzanne suffered for a staggering 27 years before finally being diagnosed with endometriosis. In the interim, this disease profoundly undermined her quality of life. She endured constant pain, relied on narcotics, underwent a full hysterectomy and removal of her ovaries, and was dismissed by health care providers who insisted the pain was all in her head.

It was only after the hysterectomy that she finally received an accurate diagnosis and learned that she had been struggling all these years with endometriosis. Her doctor assured her he "got it all," and she thought her days of pain and suffering were over. Within 2 months, however, the pain came back with a vengeance and she realized that her first surgeon had only performed a routine hysterectomy and had not touched the endometriosis. She joined the Endometriosis Association and started to research the disease. One doctor's name kept coming up - Dr. David Redwine, of Bend, Oregon. The women who were better had had surgery with him, the women who were still suffering, had not.

The realization that the first doctor had lied to her was a devastating revelation, but at the same time hearing of Dr. Redwine, a pioneer in endometriosis research and surgery, gave her hope for the future. She learned that her first surgeon simply lacked the surgical expertise required to remove the endometriosis. So, instead, he removed her female organs via a large incision, closed her up, and hoped for the best. She learned through her extensive research that seeing an endometriosis specialist, and having all the endometriosis excised was the best approach to eradicating the disease. She made an appointment to have surgery with Dr. Redwine.

When she met Dr. Redwine, she felt validated. She had never before met a doctor who was so knowledgeable, caring, and understanding. He told her she had the classic symptoms of endometriosis, and that he could help her. When Dr. Redwine operated, he found extensive endometriosis throughout her pelvis - on the bladder, bowels, uterine ligaments, rectum and cul-de-sac. Suzanne's endometriosis was extensive and invasive and had not been resolved by removal of her pelvic organs. She also had extensive adhesions that were causing additional pain.

She had so much anger toward physicians from all the years of misdiagnosis, misunderstanding, and mistreatment, that she decided to direct that energy in a positive way. She wanted to help other women with this debilitating disease. If she could help just one woman not to endure the years of suffering she did, then her journey would be worth it. To date, Suzanne has helped countless women with endometriosis find the care they deserve. She has served as Crisis Call Listener for the Endometriosis Association, co-moderated the WebMD endometriosis support group, has had several newspaper and media articles written about her journey with this disease, and continues to educate women and girls about endometriosis in the local schools and community.

Suzanne has now been pain- and endometriosis-free since her surgery with Dr. Redwine over 12 years ago. She doesn't know where she would be now, health and emotion-wise, if she had not had excision surgery to finally remove the disease and the associated adhesions. She is grateful to Dr. Redwine for giving her back her life, and when the opportunity to help with this website came up, she gladly volunteered. Her mission to help women with endometriosis continues. She has put in many hours of her time, proof-reading the site, giving feedback on the design and layout, typing up materials, and offering support.

Suzanne is a married, mother of two, who lives on Camano Island. She is an avid flyfisher, loves to hike, raises chickens and maintains extensive gardens. She is active in many environmental, political and humanitarian causes.