It’s Friday! The last one in March. I swear, where does time time go?

Today’s inspirational quote is actually a poem, Dare to Be, by Steve Maraboli.

“When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Each one of these statements made my heart smile, so I wanted to share them with you.

I hope you all have an incredible weekend.

Much love, Lisa.

Blogs I updated this week:

Endometriosis & the Appendix: The Asian Journal of Case Reports in Surgery published a study on March 8, 2021, of a 22 year-old-woman who went to the hospital for 5 days of throbbing right-sided abdominal pain. She had no other symptoms and reported it felt tender during any palpitation. Physicians suspected appendicitis and a surgery was performed. They noticed during surgery that her appendix was, indeed, inflamed. Everything else appeared normal within her pelvic cavity. The pathologist discovered Endometriosis within the muscle walls of her appendix. The patient was later referred to her gynecologist for any needed ongoing treatment.

Endometriosis & the Bowel:

1. A study published in the February 2021 edition of The American Surgeon reports a 41-year-old woman had a mass nearly blocking her sigmoid colon. A CT scan confirmed the presence of the obstruction. A flexible sigmoidoscopy was attempted, but was unable to breach the obstruction. She underwent a laparotomy where it was discovered that her left ovary and fallopian tube were adhered to her sigmoid colon and surgically removed along with her blocked sigmoid colon. Pathology revealed “extensive” Endometriosis of the colon mass and ovary, as well as adhesions.
2. The International Surgery Journal published a March 2021 study of a 45-year-old woman who had been suspected of peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum); she had no prior history of abnormal periods or Endometriosis. A physical examination divulged her rectal cavity was “ballooning and tender…” and a laparotomy was in order. During surgery, they found a perforation in her sigmoid colon, and her abdominal cavity had been contaminated with escaped fecal matter (yes, that’s poop). They also found a “large mass” near the upper portion of her rectum. She received a bowel resection, and a temporary bag, and stayed in the hospital for seven days. Pathology came back that the mass was Endometriosis and it had fully involved the wall of her sigmoid colon, most likely causing the perforation. After three months, the bag-procedure was reversed. During that reversal surgery, they discovered a cyst on her left ovary, but the biopsy came back as NOT Endometriosis. There was no other Endometriosis discovered in her pelvic cavity during both surgeries.

Endometriosis on The Skin: The Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology published a study in February of 2021 of a 29-year-old woman who had a dark mass develop in her belly button a year prior. It was painful during her period. It felt very firm and a CT scan showed it increased in density in the umbilical area, but did not extend to any organs. A biopsy showed it was umbilical Endometriosis. Once they received the biopsy results, a surgery was performed to remove the entire mass. There is an incredible picture of her belly button Endo in the study!