Endometriosis is a terribly painful, often debilitating, mis- and under-diagnosed, and under-treated disease estimated to impact 1 in 10 women. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Pictured above, Scars: An Anthology contributor Lea Ervin White displays the statistic that led her to write “And We Closed Our Eyes,” which begins with a horrifying scene:
“Fuck you, you piece of shit.”
I hurled the bloody metal nail file into the mirror.
Furiously, I glared at my own reflection while gripping the white counter top with my bloody hands. My breath was on fire. I was on fire. My body was fueled with adrenaline after stabbing myself with the file after my bath.
Why, you ask? Because why the fuck not? My body was at tacking me, so I decided to give it a taste of its own vile medicine. That’s what happens when you have an autoimmune disease. It renders you helpless, so you have to find a way to reclaim power.
Endometriosis took my power.”
But since, she’s been taking it back as an endometriosis advocate. Aside from her essay in Scars, you can read Lea’s writing about endometriosis on The Mighty and elsewhere. Thank you for all you do to share your story for the benefit of all Lea! We're proud to call you part of our Et Alia family.
