Since our first miscarriage in 2016, Labor Day weekend has brought pain, tears, and a mutual leaning on each other to get through dark times.

This year, the day before my 36th birthday, we got a devastating answer to our problems trying to bring children into our family. I have a complete bicornuate uterus. This means that instead of a nice open pear-shaped uterus, I have two completely separate cavities. Children are not, and never have been, in the cards for us.

Shortly after learning this news, I ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis. This episode was most likely caused by stones or sludge created by my gallbladder, but my biological father's problematic history of chronic pancreatitis still looms heavy in our minds.

Thursday, we finalized one of the hardest choices we've made in our 14 years together. On September 22, I will be having a tandem hysterectomy and gallbladder removal. This surgery will alleviate a lot of the chronic pain I suffer from. It will allow for the important healing of losing the dream of having our own biological children in order to eventually become foster parents to children desperately in need of stability and security.

Unfortunately, there is still $5,351 left on my out-of-pocket maximum before the remainder of this $58,725 surgery. This is approximately 2 months of our current salary and will financially devastate us. I am seeking any and all help that I can get in order to have this life-bettering surgery.