A Tale of Two Siblings: How Endometriosis Affected Avery and MK

In some ways, Avery and MK are as different as two siblings can be. Avery, a soft-spoken 19-year-old pet-store worker, enjoys snuggling her two dogs, knitting and caring for her many aquariums full of fish. MK, a 17-year-old student, is active in theater, choir and speech and debate, with an exuberant personality to match.

But one thing both of them have in common is dealing with pain from endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in the pelvic area outside the uterus.

“Endometriosis is a chronic disease, meaning it’s something that people deal with for the rest of their lives,” explained Ashli Lawson, MD, MS a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Children’s Mercy. “By the time most adults are diagnosed, their disease is more advanced, but teens are at this really critical stage where we can intervene earlier and help get them back in school and back to activities.”

Persistent pain meets its match

Avery and MK both started having severe pain and other bladder, bowel and stomach problems around the time they started their periods. Finding the right help took time, as their pediatrician and other specialists tried various tests and treatments to address their symptoms. Finally, they both got connected with Dr. Lawson, who could do laparoscopic surgery to look for endometriosis.

Avery and MK’s mom, Karri, was no stranger to endometriosis, as she has battled the condition since her teenage years as well. “I didn’t discover that endometriosis was the source of my heavy, irregular periods until I started trying to conceive and saw a fertility specialist,” Karri recalled. After four laparoscopic procedures to remove the excess tissue, she finally got relief from the pain and was able to have three children.

“There’s a very strong genetic component with endometriosis,” said Dr. Lawson. “We know that patients with a first-degree relative with endometriosis have 7 times the risk.” Because of Karri’s personal experience, she was able to advocate for her kids’ needs and work closely with their gynecology team to find solutions that worked for them both.

Individualized care for the whole person

Holistic care for all patients is a hallmark of the Gynecology Clinic. Often, the pain and life-inhibiting complications of conditions like endometriosis take a significant toll on patients’ mental health. Both MK and Avery wrestled with depression during their early teen years. But the personalized care of their Children’s Mercy team made a world of difference. “Dr. Lawson — she's always been incredible,” said MK. “She's helped me through this every step of the way. I trust myself and my body with her.”

While MK’s endometriosis was fairly small and limited to one area near the bladder, Avery’s road to recovery has been more complex. “I have had issues from the beginning, when I first started my period,” Avery shared. “I was so sick that I missed a lot of school and couldn’t enjoy things like vacations.”

It took quite a bit of trial and error to find solutions that would help her manage the pain and severe symptoms she experienced every month. “Avery had gone through every medical therapy we could offer, and I was running out of options,” said Dr. Lawson. “We needed to intervene surgically to help her get answers and pain relief.”

Surgery brings answers and relief

Dr. Lawson performed laparoscopic surgery on both siblings to definitively diagnose and, in Avery’s case, remove endometrial tissue that was causing problems. Avery also benefited from additional treatments, like pelvic floor physical therapy, pain management and medications that stabilize her hormones and reduce bleeding. “It’s completely changed my life around,” Avery shared. “There’s a lot of stuff that had to happen to get me here, and Dr. Lawson and my mom were right beside me through all of it.”

Mom Karri is grateful for the care her children received at Children’s Mercy. “Dr. Lawson really listened and believed us,” she said. “We always felt like we were heard.”

And for Dr. Lawson, the reward comes when she hears her patients are getting back to normal teen life stuff. “It’s so important to remember that this is more of a journey and look back and see where you started from,” said Dr. Lawson. “I’m in it for the long haul. It makes my day to hear that a patient got a job, was able to go back to in-person school or went to the prom.”

For MK and Avery, being able to live life with less pain has made all the difference. “The pain reduction is monumental,” MK emphasized. “It’s improved my physical and mental health and gives me hope for the future.”