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The Courageous awaits a Cure

​The Yardeh Hope 4 Life Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded by myself and my mother. Our primary objective is to raise awareness about Adhesion Related Disease (ARD), encompassing Abdominal and Pelvic Adhesions.

The foundation's inception stemmed from a quest for answers regarding my health condition. Enduring chronic abdominal pain in my twenties and beyond, and undergoing multiple surgeries to remove uterine fibroids without relief, prompted me to seek information on ARD to find a cure. Despite further surgeries due to recurring fibroids and persisting pain, a surgery in July 2009 resulted in a life-altering full bowel obstruction by November of the same year.

Subsequently, my life has revolved around hospital stays, ER visits, and countless agonizing and sleepless nights. Seeking help across various states has not alleviated my chronic pain.

Through extensive research, I discovered that adhesions are prevalent post-abdominal surgeries. While some individuals remain unaffected, others, like myself, endure severe ARD. Despite medical experts' acknowledgment of my condition's severity, no further surgical intervention is deemed viable. I now rely on daily medication and periodic ER visits for pain relief.

Yardeh Hope 4 Life Foundation, Inc. aims to raise ARD awareness through community initiatives and workshops, providing sufferers with access to limited resources. The foundation's goal is to encourage collaboration among medical professionals and researchers to find lasting solutions, including a potential cure, for improved care and recognition of Abdominal Pelvic Adhesion/Adhesion Related Disorder as a chronic ailment.

This collaborative effort could pave the way for research funding, offering much-needed support to ARD patients, survivors, and caregivers, ensuring they do not suffer in silence or solitude.

Meet Rayshell...

​My name is Rayshell A. Anderson, and I am a sufferer of Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD). Approximately 12 years ago, I received a diagnosis of Chronic Abdominal Adhesion, which marked the beginning of a medical journey comprising over 50 hospital admissions and more than 10 surgeries. This health challenge originated in 1997 when I underwent a partial hysterectomy due to cervical cancer. Subsequent procedures included the removal of an ovarian cyst a year later and the extraction of my left ovary five years after that. The frequency of emergency room visits and hospitalizations escalated, accompanied by escalating pain and persistent nausea.

Enduring chronic pain that hindered daily activities, including consistent work absences, compounded my daily stresses. The uncertainty surrounding my condition and the lack of effective assistance began to impact my quality of life. The situation worsened when I was informed of the necessity to undergo a procedure to remove a large portion of my colon. Following this operation in 2008, my health deteriorated significantly. In 2009, I underwent an Exploratory Surgery to address adhesions contributing to a bowel obstruction. It took years of enduring excruciating pain before receiving a diagnosis of Chronic Abdominal Adhesion. No individual should have to endure the hardships I have faced.

My journey has been marked by significant challenges. Due to delayed diagnosis, I underwent further surgeries to address bowel obstructions and the removal of my right ovary. Subsequent procedures targeted adhesion and mesh removal. Regrettably, my health continued to decline. In 2017, I underwent additional surgery for bowel obstruction and adhesion removal. To compound my health struggles, I was diagnosed with Motility syndrome, a perforated segment of the small bowel with fibrous adhesion, Adhesive disease of the abdomen, and Vertigo. I contend with chronic pain, as well as symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and pulling sensations.

I share my narrative to underscore the importance of prioritizing less invasive surgeries over major procedures to mitigate the risk of developing Chronic Scar Tissue.