Endometriosis Foundation of Houston

09/12/2025

Hi friends! Today is a milestone moment for me, so I wanted to share.

10 years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. 5 years ago, I had excision surgery with Dr Guan. Today, I am dancing in my first performance since endometriosis hit me full force in 2015.

Dance has been a huge part of my life for the last 25 years. Growing up and into my 20s, I breathed ballet. I had the look, the confidence, and the "fake it till you make it" attitude down. And a little talent.

Ballet is probably what made me really good at masking my pain since that's what dancers do day in and day out. Endo is DEFINITELY worse than pointe shoes, though.

I returned to dance 3 years ago. Endo took a lot from me--my confidence and trust in my body being front and center--but I'm finally reclaiming a crucial piece of myself. Tonight, at the ripe age of 37, I'm stepping into my first professional dance performance--as the only non-professional dancer on the stage.

It's a small role, but I'm so happy to be able to do it. And extremely nervous!

If you aren't doing anything tonight, I'd love to see you there. A few other endo friendos have already bought tickets and there will be a small reception after the show.

If you'd like to come, here's the info. You can use code Friendsandfamily for $10 off each ticket. https://matchouston.org/events/2025/obsession

Endo is awful. It takes a lot from us, and it takes so much to recover from it, but it is possible. My role in this show is sort of the holder of hope for the other dancers as they journey through struggle and moments of despair. I hope that I--and Endometriosis Foundation of Houston--can help you reclaim that hope.

07/16/2025

07/11/2025

Congratulations to our President on her upcoming performance on September 12!

Did you know that EFHou president Alison trained in ballet? This will be Alison's first dance performance since overcoming her battle with endometriosis! 💛

Huge thanks to Dr Xioaming Guan at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women and all of her pelvic floor physical therapists (including Karen at Empower Yourself PT: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy ) for helping her reach this milestone!

We hope to see you at the performance!
https://matchouston.org/events/2025/obsession?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLeCR5jbGNrAt4JF2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEepf60EyW7KN-l2rVPlfurUzQYr6_NmV8ALbdMu8poeF9N6W7akFwweZROuuE_aem_jm66Cs1cjvfUQqvGaJsAaw

Introducing our special guest performer of “Obsession” 2025
Alison Landolt-Franjie began her ballet training in Houston, Texas with Samira Hall before joining the Hartford Conservatory’s pre-professional program in 2006. She later continued her dance training under Sue Boyle in Brookline, Massachusetts at The Studio: A Dance Center for Adults. She danced with dedication until 2015, when she began a multi-year battle with stage 3 endometriosis. During this time, Alison co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of Houston, becoming a passionate advocate for others living with the disease.
After undergoing three major surgeries, Alison returned to ballet in 2022. Since then, she has studied under three of the four featured dancers in this performance—Lindsey McGill, Dawn Dippel, and Dwain Travis—and continues her training at Houston Ballet, Institute of Contemporary Dance (ICD), and Hunter Dance Center.
This performance marks Alison’s first return to the stage since her diagnosis, symbolizing both a personal and artistic milestone in her journey.

Coming this September 12 at MATCH! “Obsession” is an immersive show for dance, music and installations.
We invite you to join us! Introducing our choreographers/ dancers: Dawn Dippel, Dwain Travis (courtesy of Houston Contemporary Dance Company), Joy Crissmon, Lindsey McGill. More info coming soon! Follow us on “connecting islands” social and stay tuned!
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Link in bio

06/27/2025

Join us tonight at at 7 pm for the period product drive and book launch tour!

💛 Author Kelsey B. Toney in conversation with local
💛 Purchase signed and personalized book copies
💛 Fight period poverty in our community

Bring a box of pads, tampons, or liners to donate to and get a FREE sticker! Can't wait to see you there!

https://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/toney-2025

06/25/2025

I just finished The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday audiobook by , and beautifully narrated by .

As someone whose academic pursuits were destroyed by endometriosis, I had a lot of anxiety about this book, to be honest. It felt really, really close to home. I was diagnosed the last year of my doctorate in clinical psychology and my program was not understanding or willing to work with me through a botched surgery. It wasn't because I was sick, mind you--it was because I wasn't making enough progress on my dissertation... because I was sick.

But once I got through my initial anxiety, I couldn't stop listening. This book gets endo right. If you have endo or you love someone with endo READ IT.

I'm still processing all my thoughts (and might need to cry a little more) but I can't wait to discuss this book and meet Kelsey (and I hope several of YOU!) at this Friday.

Endometriosis is such a personal disease and presents in so many ways, but yet our experiences of the disease are still so common. Thank you for sharing our story. 💛
-A.

06/25/2025

Join us this Friday for a period product drive benefiting !

We will be at at 7 pm on June 27 for lots of fun!

💛 Meet author on her endo-rep book launch tour
💛 In conversation with local Jean
Torie Jeanhase signed copies of "The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday"
💛 Fight period poverty in our community

Please bring a box of pads, tampons, or liners to donate and get a FREE sticker while supplies last!

Can't wait to see you there!

https://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/toney-2025

06/24/2025

Are you coming to the author event at THIS Friday? Bring a package of tampons, liners, or pads to get a FREE sticker from !

Huge shout out to Meghan W. for donating the stickers! This is truly an event BY and FOR our endo community, and we can't wait to see you there!

in conversation with Houston's own for the launch of Toney's new book

📆Friday, June 27 at 7 PM

06/23/2025

📚 Save the Date: Friday, June 27! 📚

The Endometriosis Foundation of Houston will be at Blue Willow Bookshop for a very special evening supporting both menstrual equity and endo representation in literature!

Join us in celebrating the launch of Kelsey B. Toney ’s new novel, The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday—a powerful story centering endometriosis. Kelsey will be in conversation with Houston-based for an honest, heartfelt discussion you won’t want to miss.

✨ Event Highlights:
🗓️ Date: Friday, June 27 at 7 pm
📍 Location: Blue Willow Bookshop
🎤 Author chat
🩸 Period product drive benefiting Houston Food Bank

💛 Please bring a box of pads, tampons, or liners to donate—and get a FREE sticker from our friends !

Let’s turn awareness into action!

Learn more: bluewillowbookshop.com/event/toney-2025

06/22/2025

Don't miss this event on Friday!

We’re thrilled to invite you to a meaningful and inspiring evening on Friday, June 27 at Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston!Join the Endometriosis Foundation of Houston (EFHou) as we support fellow Endo warrior and author Kelsey B. Toney in celebrating the launch of her new book, The Unexpected Conse...

06/20/2025

Join us next Friday for a period product drive benefiting !

We will be at at 7 pm on June 27 for lots of fun!

💛 Meet author on her endo-rep book launch tour
💛 In conversation with local
💛 Purchase signed copies of "The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday"
💛 Fight period poverty in our community

Please bring a box of pads, tampons, or liners to donate. Can't wait to see you there!

https://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/toney-2025

06/19/2025

Save the Date for Friday June 27! The Endometriosis Foundation of Houston will be at supporting a period product drive and book launch!

will be celebrating the launch of her new endometriosis representation book, The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday. Kelsey will appear in conversation with Houston-based

This event will benefit , facilitated by the Endometriosis Foundation of Houston . Please consider bringing a box of pads, tampons, or liners to the event for donation; we will deliver all donations to the Houston Food Bank on your behalf.

Find out more here: https://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/toney-2025

06/18/2025

Thank you to everyone who applied for our pelvic floor physical therapy and mental health scholarships. We are currently reviewing applications and will be in touch soon!