The Endometriosis Foundation of America held its 9th Annual Blossom Ball on March 19, 2018 at Cipriani 42nd Street with cocktails beginning at 6:30 PM. The evening’s honorees were superstar singer Halsey and Lone Hummelshoj – who was a no – show due to her Visa problems with the State Department. Security was tight as Halsey’s star continues to rise and paparazzi were anxiously trying to get a shot of her in a sheer white ruffled J. Mendel gown.
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| David Paterson |
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus-the endometrium-grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis can cause pain, especially during a woman’s period, and often leads to fertility issues. Some famous names that have recently called attention to this debilitating disease are Lena Dunham, Padma Lakshmi and Halsey. Dunham appeared on film describing the horrific pain she experienced during her bouts with endometriosis and her decision to recently undergo a total hysterectomy knowing that she would no longer be able to get pregnant; Surprisingly Lakshmi and Dunham were both absent from the dinner.
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| Co-chairs Subrata De and Dr. Sandra Gelbard |
Dinner attendees were comprised of mostly obstetricians and gynecologists – if you were in labor this was the place to be. Co-chair Subrata De, introduced singer Halsey as an endo-warrior saying because of her bravery those of us with endo can emerge from the shadows. She said that Halsey’s searing openness has led to increased awareness. Halsey, 23, said she found out she had endometriosis when she was 20 after suffering a miscarriage having not even been aware she was pregnant.
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| Jean Shafiroff and Halsey |
She then proceeded to perform at a concert after taking a Percocet and wearing an adult incontinence diaper in front of 1,200 screaming teenage girls, ignoring her own pain and discomfort as she pointed out women so often do. Halsey at that point realized she could overcome anything and “nothing could get in her f-in way.”
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| Meredith O’Connor and Rick Galvin |
Halsey was tearful as she described her painful bouts with the disease often fainting and being unable to enjoy the company of her friends and boyfriend. Last year she had a laparoscopic diagnostic operation which has nearly cured her but she remains in constant fear that if she relapses her friends and boyfriend might go away because they might not understand and give up on her.
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| Ashley Cannady and Kari Anderson |
Halsey was extremely approachable and told me she grew up on welfare with two parents that were college dropouts. She started to write songs about the way she felt and people started to listen while her parents continually encouraged her to express herself. Both of her parents are involved in philanthropy with her mother volunteering with her to help homeless youth and her father working at a pantry.
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| Millen Magese and Dr. Sallie Sarrel |
Her rise over the past couple of years has been stratospheric having recently been at the Vanity Fair Oscar party and participating in last year’s Grammy’s immediately after undergoing her operation while she still had stitches in her stomach. Halsey described how she used to carry a Tampon in her sleeve as she was ashamed of getting her period, and was hopeful that women would discuss their health issues more openly. Halsey was tearful as she spoke about her battle with Endometriosis and how by opening up to her fans there were now thousands of young people approaching her at concerts to tell her they had caught the disease early.
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| Hayama Brill Seated: Standing: Left to Right Dr. Thomas Lallas, Dr. Tamer Seckin, Theodore Goldman and Gianni Rodriguez-Ayala |
Halsey’s doctor, Dr. Tamer Seckin, head of the Endometriosis Foundation and a legend in the field, said 200 million women including 1 in 10 women suffer from this disease which often goes undiagnosed. Seckin praised Halsey for her beautiful speech at the “Women’s March” and for all the extraordinary activists. Seckin founded the Endometriosis Foundation in 2006 with Padma Lakshmi and has received numerous awards including The Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Super Doctor award. Seckin works tirelessly to increase awareness and research for the disease and made his way around the room to talk with doctors and sufferers about their struggle with the disease.
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| Resistance Revival Chorus |
After a moving performance by the “Resistance Revival Chorus” guests headed to the foyer for an after-party which included a DJ and some more delectable desserts – all for the relatively cheap price of $750.
– Lieba Nesis
