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Waterloo women hope to form endometriosis support group hey‘ve supported each I other, now â€" two local women are hoping to help others of their gender cope with an ordeal both believe has not received enough public attenâ€" tion. Brenda Hodge and Wendy Love are cousins who have shared everything growing up, including a painful experience and _ firstâ€"hand _ knowledge of a condition known as endometriosis. A â€" reproductive â€" disorder which only: affects women, endometriosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus {endometrium) grows in other areas of the body, causing pain, irregular bleeding and freâ€" quent infertility. The tissue growth typically occurs in the pelvic area, outâ€" side of the uterus, on the ovaries, bowel, rectum, bladder, and possibly in other areas of the body. While there are still a numâ€" ber of questions surrounding the condition, including the actual cause, a definitive cure for it, and why it only affects some women, Hodge beheves there should be more informaâ€" tion, and support, available to sufferers who, she said, tend to fee} both humiliated and alone. "It‘s total hell," said the 24â€" yearâ€"old. "It puts stress on every aspect of your life. I‘ve lost jobs because of it; and it is so hard for your loved ones to underâ€" stand what‘s happening to you, and that there‘s nothing they can do to help." That‘s why Hodge and Love want to start a support group specifically for sufferers and their families, to share experiâ€" ences and let them know others ar;â€"vvv;l'l.;i\;\;are of what they‘re going through. P S 1 loqus Bm comll ® "Unless you hear other women say ‘exactly‘ when you‘re describing the pain you go through, nothing helps." Hodge said. "Hearing that lets a woman know that it‘s not all in her head, like others seem to believe, and that it‘s real and it‘s happening." In the past, endometriosis was a disorder which commonâ€" By Anorea Bamey Chrontcle Staff (actoss from Visit our web " _ MEN‘S TAPPAREL Waterloo Town Square from Shoppers Drug Mart) 746â€"9136 website: www .starpages.com/flagstaff Wendy Love (left) and Brenda Hodge hope to start a support group for endometriosis sufferers. Pictured clockwise from left are Love, Hodge, Hodge‘s daughter, Winter Lynn Mclean, and Love‘s daughter Megan DeMerchant. AmbagA BALEY PAOTO ly developed in women who were in their late 20s or early Common symptoms include severe pain before, during and after menstruation, irregular heavy bleeding, bowel and bladâ€" der problems, and painful sexuâ€" al intercourse. However, as the condition is now becoming more prevalent in teenagers, it‘s difficult to diagâ€" nose and often classified as severe menstrual cramps. O Hodge was 17 years old when her first symptoms appeared, LIFESTYLE = Final DAYS W SAVE 50â€" Suits * Sportcoats Outerwear * Sweaters and three laser surgeries later she‘s still looking for a definitive end "When 1 first developed symptoms, my doctor was stumped," she said. "But after four or five trips to the emerâ€" gency room, it was suggested it could be endometriosis." After enduring a number of tests which Hodge described as terrifying, she was finally diagâ€" nosed at the age of 20. _ 1t was then that she turned to Love, whom she knew had been diagnosed with the same condiâ€" WA NCE ~605" S A LE tion a year earlier at the age of 18, for moral support. Since her diagnosis, Love, 23, has lost one ovary to the condiâ€" tion, and a great deal of self esteem. "It‘s really affected my life with my daughter," she said, referring to her fiveâ€"yearâ€"old Megan. "She has had to learn to do a lot of things by herself already. "L call her my little helper because on the days when the pain is so bad and it‘s hard for me to move, she‘ll get me a drink and offer to help me in other ways." While both Hodge and Love are blessed to each have a daughter, there is no guarantee the condition will allow them to add to their families; and there is also a chance their daughters will develop the same condition during their lifetimes. That‘s why starting a group now is so important. "We have a couple of aunts and a second cousin who also have it," Hodge said. "It‘s been passed through the family, and we‘re afraid our girls will suffer and go through the same as what our generation has had to go through. â€"_ "We want to know that there will be support for them if they need it." While there was a regional support group for sufferers, it has been inactive for at least a year. Now Hodge and Love feel its time to get it back up on its feet. They have also contacted the Waterloo Region District school board about hosting a workâ€" shop on the condition; as well as bringing the topic into the offiâ€" cial sexual education curricuâ€" lum for students. Hoping to partner with the Endometriosis Association, the women are now in the process of advertising upcoming meetâ€" ings. "There is light at the end of the tunnel, with help," Hodge said. "We want women to know that they don‘t have to suffer alone." For more information on the endometriosis support group, contact â€" Brenda â€" Hodge _ at 883â€"8416 Fall & Winter Merchandise Hospice of Waterloo Region will host an evening with Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz, Canadian expert on palliaâ€" tive care and grief counselling, from 7â€"9 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Holiday Inn in Kitchener. Palliative care expert to discuss spirituality and healing After spending five years as a Rabbi in the Chicago area, "Rabbi Z" came to Hamilton in 1989 to serve as the Rabbi of Temple Anshe Sholom, Canada‘s old â€" est Reform congregation. He currently serves on the Clinical Ethics Committee of the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation. He has lectured and taught as a scholar at a number of synagogues, appeared on radio and television and has had articles published in several journals and newspapers. Hospice of Waterloo Region is & communityâ€"based volunteer organiza tion whose mission is to help individu als with lifeâ€"threatening or terminal ill ness live at home or in a homeâ€"like set ting as comfortably as possible. 2 n oins WATERLOO NORTH enc cue s s esn Hospice care also extends to friends and family members, helping them care for their loved ones and to care for themselves during a very difficult time in their lives, To register for this event, call 743â€"4114. The third annual studentâ€"run Peace Conference will be held Feb. 27â€"28 at Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo. _ The theme of this year‘s conference is "Spheres of Action: Responding to Social Injustices in Can_ada". Studentâ€"run peace conference held this week at UW The goal of the conference is to fosâ€" ter â€"communication â€" and . action between the academic, government, religious and secular elements in the quest for peatre. Conference contributors include Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong); Marilou McPhedran, a human rights lawyer and a member of the Order of Canada; Alanis Obomsawin, filmmakâ€" er; Bob Rae, former Ontario premier and mediator at Burnt Church; Hugh Russell, mediator; the Wildfire Dance Troupe; Christian Peacemaker Teams and more. The conference will also include a mediation workshop, panel discussion, presentations and informal discussion. 0% uP [E Ask tor cetais ERLOO NORTH Morthtield at the Parkway "Ya e â€"â€"] 746â€"1666 FINANCING wore waterioomazta com