"The Woman Who Lost Everything"

This story is partially true. Though *grrr* my uterus, ovaries, and all have not been removed, I continue to suffer and wonder if I truly have "Endometriosis."

Maria Williams and James Torres are a loving couple, who live in Las Vegas, Nevada, A.K.A. Sin City. They are both 18, just moved out of their parent's home, because James got a job at his father's restaurant chain as a waiter. It was a very elegant restaurant and James' father paid him well. Maria worked at Starbucks in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

* * * *

"Dear Diary, May 3, 2002

I just got home from Dr. Milani, who is my gynecologist. Before I tell you what she said to me, let me tell you how all this started. When I was 12 years old, I started my period. The cramps were horrible as my mother had always told me..and the bleeding was something else. For years, I dismissed this fact, as it being normal, because I couldn't really talk to my mother about it since her hysterectomy in 1995. My mother was diagnosed with 'Endometriosis' years ago. She almost died because of it. She nearly bled to death. The last year or so, I finally realized that I may have what my mother and sister have. Why me? I'm too young. Usually it doesn't affect women my age.

Dr. Milani did a vaginal ultrasound on me in her office, and later, she did a full body one. Afterwards, as I took my ankles out of the stirrups, she told me that I have 'Endometriosis'. I wasn't shocked in the least, I have been preparing myself for this.

I am really scared with now about my future, what's going to happen to me? Well, James is home now, I have to go, I'll write at a later date. Ciao!"

* * * *

Maria ran up to meet James, her loving fiance of ten months. He picked her up, kissed her, and took her into their bedroom. He sat her on the bed and started to change into his baggy jeans and T-shirt. Maria still had the results of her gynecological exam in the back of her mind and couldn't break it to James as of yet, she had to know if she needed surgery first.

"So how was everything at doc's?" he asked, smiling, his beautiful greenish blue eyes, sparkling with love. He took her hand and sat beside her on their huge king sized, leopard print covered bed.

"U-um, it went fine, everything's okay." She said, smiling at him. He put his left arm around her from the back.

"That's good, I hate to see you suffer."

Maria squirmed when she heard that.

'But, I am suffering, I just don't have the heart to tell you.' Maria got up.

"I'm going to start dinner now." She dashed off to the kitchen in their one story home. James was confused with her sudden change of mood.

Maria got to the kitchen and felt like she was burning up. She decided to turn on the ceiling fan to cool it down. 'Damn, it's hot in here, I can't take it.' She saw James enter the kitchen, so she started digging in the pantry for something to pop in the microwave, versus cooking.

"Why did you turn on the fan? It's freaking freezing in here!" He said, with goose pimples all over his arms. Maria slammed a box of macaroni on the counter, and looked at him, mad, and breathing heavy because she was so hot and sweating.

"I am hot, it is BOILING in here!!!!" She practically screamed at him.

"It's always hot to you, but to every normal person, it's freezing." James stated, sitting down at the table. Maria got out a measuring bowl and poured some purified water into it and tossed it into the microwave for ten minutes.

"DO YOU EVEN CARE HOW I FEEL?!" Maria screeched, tears streaming down her face. James, as usual, was shocked with her sudden mood swings she had been having the last two months. He got up and hold her in his arms, as she cried it out. He decided to let her rest and he finished "cooking" the meal and served it.

"I'm not hungry." She said, pushing the plate aside, while watching TV in the living room. James was worried about her because she was not eating either.

"You need to eat."

"NO! I SAID I'M NOT HUNGRY!" She ran off to their room and slammed the door.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" James yelled.

Maria raced to the phone and got it before him.

"Hello?" she asked, wiping her eyes, as she laid down into the comfortable bed.

"It's Dr. Milani." She answered.

"Hey, why are you calling?"

"I found something else in the blood test, that I didn't find before. You have excessive hormones, which is causing your near constant periods, mood swings, and hot flashes."

"What?!" Maria asked.

"Come by my office on Monday, at two. I'll give you details."

~ MONDAY ~

Maria walked into Dr. Milani's office.

"Hi." She asked, shyly.

"Hey, come on in and sit down." She said, warmly smiling.

Maria sat, and put her purse next to her right ankle.

"I would like to schedule a surgery for Friday. We have to remove the fibroid tumors before you die."

"Okay.." Maria said, reluctantly. Dr. Milani's got out some forms and Maria signed them.

"Okay, see you at four sharp on Friday." She said with a smile.

Maria smiled back, "Okay."

~ FRIDAY ~

Maria was ready for her surgery, she hadn't eaten or drank in over twelve hours, and her and James had made love all week, just in case something went wrong. James lugged Maria's one "overnight" bag to the car and got in next to Maria.

"Are you ready, baby doll?" He asked, grasping her hand and kissing it.

Maria breathed in and out, deeply.

"Yes. I am always afraid to go under the knife."

He smiled at her.

"It's going to be all right."

He pulled out of the garage and drove off to the hospital.

~ AT THE HOSPITAL ~

"Dear Diary, May 9, 2002

I am so freaked out about this. What if they botch it? Dr. Milani is not here, because she had a hysterectomy to attend to. I hope this doctor's just as good as she is. James is so worried, even though he doesn't show it, he does pace back forth a lot, like he's doing right now, while talking with Dr. Milani on his cell phone. She told me I will be able to have kids after this surgery. I really want to give James kids after we marry in July.

It's bad enough I can't eat or drink, but I'm on my period right now and it's all over the place. I can't stop it anymore, I flood with blood, it was getting so bad that, all I could do was lie in bed these last few days.

Well, I have to go now, they are ready to prep me for surgery.

* * * *

After the preparation, Maria was wheeled into the operating room with IVs and whatnot in her arms. She had an oxygen tube up her nose and was ready to end her suffering and begin a new as a normal woman with normal periods.

"Okay, we're going to inject this anesthetic into your IV and you will be out before you know it." The new doctor said, as he administered the shot of anesthetic. Maria was out.

~ AFTER THE SURGERY, IN THE RECOVERY ROOM ~

Maria was groggy and finally woke up an hour after the four hour surgery. James was right there, holding her hand.

"Welcome back, beautiful." he said, smiling, and wiping her black hair out of her face. Maria was 5'5", skinny, black hair, blackish brown eyes, and was half Asian, had nice curves. Even her hospital gown was sexy on her.

"Hi." Maria said, hoarsely, she was thirsty.

James' expression went to sad.

"What is it, sweetie?" Maria asked, trying to sit up.

"Don't sit up.. Maria, there were complications with the operation. The doctor couldn't see before of all the blood and accidentally sliced your uterus in half. They had no choice, but to remove it, your fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Maria looked horrified.

"I'm only 18!" she cried, covering mouth. She realized she'd never have kids.

"I know, honey, I know." He held her tight.

Since that surgery gone wrong, there was a lawsuit on the not named hospital, for a very big some of money. Maria and James have gotten married, moved to North Las Vegas, bought a house, and are happily in love. They still can make love, just like before, because she didn't have the vagina removed. Although, they cannot physically have kids, Maria had some of her eggs salvaged, and James and her implanted them in a surrogate mother, which is Maria's best friend, Amber.