Our Founder, C.Lawrence
Our founder, Cherrelle Lawrence, has suffered from painful cycles, since the age of 15. For years, doctors could never pin-point the problem. Many doctors convinced her that it was "...just a heavy cycle..." or "...all in your mind..." However, when the pain began to take over her life, she knew there had to be more to the story, than what doctors were leading the, then 19 year old, to believe. She began finding different gynecologist, longing for a proper diagnosis. Yet, because of her age, many doctors would not conduct surgery for "...something as small as a heavy cycle."
In 2010, after receiving her Bachelor's degree, Cherrelle decided to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Soon the pain began to interfere with her work-life as well: missing instructional days, going to work in pain, even passing out in her own classroom. This became the norm for Cherrelle. It didn't take long for her to truly realize "...something is seriously wrong!"
She decided to seek medical professionals, again, and finally found someone who was willing to perform a surgery; however, it wasn't for the right thing. Over the course of 3 years, Cherrelle went through numerous procedures: Removal of polyps, Cryosurgery (freezing of the uterus), etc. Until, January 2012, when she was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - a condition that causes blood clots to form in the major arteries of the body. This led medical professionals with a local hospital, to refer her to Duke University Hospital.
One of the gynecologist there was known in the medical world for his work with endometriosis and laproscopic procedures (procedures needed to officially diagnose endometriosis). After months of work with him, Cherrelle underwent laproscopy in April of 2012, 2 days after her husbands engagement proposal. Post-surgery, the gynecologist informed Cherrelle and her family that she had a severe case of Endometriosis; one of the worst he had seen. He also informed them that she and her soon-to-be husband, had about a year to try to conceive, due to the amount of damage the Endometriosis had caused.
In 2013, the Endometriosis has grown back, which now takes Cherrelle through the same issues she began with, a mere year and a half ago. Although this discouraging news could have been used as a setback, she has decided to turn her frustration into motivation, which led to the creation of #HerYellowRibbon .
In 2010, after receiving her Bachelor's degree, Cherrelle decided to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Soon the pain began to interfere with her work-life as well: missing instructional days, going to work in pain, even passing out in her own classroom. This became the norm for Cherrelle. It didn't take long for her to truly realize "...something is seriously wrong!"
She decided to seek medical professionals, again, and finally found someone who was willing to perform a surgery; however, it wasn't for the right thing. Over the course of 3 years, Cherrelle went through numerous procedures: Removal of polyps, Cryosurgery (freezing of the uterus), etc. Until, January 2012, when she was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - a condition that causes blood clots to form in the major arteries of the body. This led medical professionals with a local hospital, to refer her to Duke University Hospital.
One of the gynecologist there was known in the medical world for his work with endometriosis and laproscopic procedures (procedures needed to officially diagnose endometriosis). After months of work with him, Cherrelle underwent laproscopy in April of 2012, 2 days after her husbands engagement proposal. Post-surgery, the gynecologist informed Cherrelle and her family that she had a severe case of Endometriosis; one of the worst he had seen. He also informed them that she and her soon-to-be husband, had about a year to try to conceive, due to the amount of damage the Endometriosis had caused.
In 2013, the Endometriosis has grown back, which now takes Cherrelle through the same issues she began with, a mere year and a half ago. Although this discouraging news could have been used as a setback, she has decided to turn her frustration into motivation, which led to the creation of #HerYellowRibbon .
