Do you know what endometriosis is? I didn’t.

If you have 5 minutes, I implore you to read this snippet, and if you can, support our fundraising cause. Everybody has a story, and this is ours.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease, that takes an average of 8 years to diagnose. Sophie’s diagnosis took close to that. Countless appointments, referrals, rejections. Eventually we discovered that she had deep rooted, Stage 4 Endometriosis. Unfortunately, Stage 4 is as bad as it gets. Heart-breaking to discover that all of her pelvic organs were effectively stuck together.

This chronic disease can affect you in a number of ways, but for Sophie, she suffered debilitating pain. Initially each month, especially
during her periods, but in the past 3 years, the pain was present in some way on a daily basis. When the flare ups were at their worst, the pain was so awful, she couldn’t walk, and I’d often have to support her in daily tasks. Things that you and I may do and think nothing of. I would help her to the bathroom, help her get dressed, and on the most severe days, even when the pain killers had kicked in, I would have to carry her from room to room, whilst she often cried in my arms. 7 years this lasted!

Endometriosis has also been the leading cause of our struggles with infertility. It’s not enough that this disease has taken away my wife’s quality of life, but it has also taken from us, what we have dreamt of
since we can both remember, our own family. We have endured the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, and we are now in our 4^th  year of IVF treatment, adding another complexity to this roller-coaster of emotions.

After 3 years of debate, last year Sophie’s pain became unmanageable
and the high risk surgery she had been trying to avoid, was really the only option she was left with. She underwent an extensive 7 hour surgery. The surgical plan was altered on the day once the reality of how much damage the endo had caused to her pelvic organs became clear. Once out of theatre, things didn’t get any easier. Bedbound for 3 days, unable to eat, and unable to complete bowel movements, it became clear that everything hadn’t gone to plan. She unfortunately had a post-surgical complication, that lead to another emergency surgery, which has now left her with an ileostomy stoma. I’m not quite sure how she does it, but she still remains unwaveringly stoic, resilient and positive in the present, and for her future.

I don’t think it would come as a shock to you all that my coping mechanism to deal mentally with all the above has been to run! I will
embark on this challenge to raise much needed awareness and funds for Endometriosis UK. 

8 years is not ok.

350km in one go. For Endometriosis, for my wife, for Sophie.

July 28th - 31st.

Anything that you can give is hugely appreciated, and we mean that.  Endometriosis UK is a small charity. Awareness and donation are required in equal measures.

Running is also something which Sophie loves to do, but hasn’t
been able to do freely for years. However, in typical savage Sophie fashion, she has signed up to London Marathon 2022. She will be proudly sporting the Endometriosis UK colours, and we will use this page to further progress the charity fundraising.

Follow us on Instagram for updates about this journey. @theoriginaljohnharris
@sophieh_2

Thank you for your support dear friends x

This has been a tiny window into the recent years of our
lives. If you have any questions, please reach out and ask them. Or to learn more, head to https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/