Part 4 - Endometriosis Exposed: Emily LaCates' Story - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

WMDT 47 News - In the final part of our special series on Endometriosis, we take a look at what life is like for one women suffering from this illness. Emily LaCates has made it a personal fight to find a cure for the debilitating disease, "I just want to bring awareness to it, so that way we can start finding a cure for us."

LaCates admits talking about her menstrual cycles isn't easy, but she approached WMDT with her story in the hopes that more people will know about Endometriosis and the pain plaguing millions of women just like her. "They talk about AIDS now and I remember before, when they said 'that's taboo, you shouldn't talk about that.' And now they're finding cures and everything," says LaCates.

The 25-year-old Delmar mother found out she had Endometriosis 2 years ago, "I went probably 2 years without knowing exactly what was going on and then ever since I've had several treatments and none worked. And the pain just doesn't last while you're on your period, I mean, that's when it's the worst, but it can last all month."

Emily is a Certified Nurse Practitioner, but she has dreams of being an RN. But with her condition putting her out of commission for a week or longer, her future looks uncertain." When I did my clinicals, I was in all my glory, I just had a blast with it. But then when I was sitting there and I was thinking about it, I was thinking how can I do that now, when for a week, I can't even take care of myself," she says.

Emily's 5-year-old son, Nick, shows us how he helps around the house, "he sees mommy in pain, if he sees a heating pad, he puts it on my stomach." And Emily says she does want to have more children, but statistically, women with endometriosis also deal with higher rates of infertility. But she admits she won't give up, "I have a son and I have a husband and I want to be able to be the best wife and be the best mom I can be."

If you would like some additional information on this disease, the Endometriosis Association will send you a free information packet on this illness, just give them a call at 414-355-2200.