“When asked how many daughters I have, I say I have two,” Georgia Craig explained. “My Casey is thirty-eight, and my Courtney is Forever 31.”

 

Georgia and Tom Craig are long-time members of Prestonwood. They are now retired from their corporate jobs. Their older daughter, Casey Craig Cesca, lives in Raleigh with her husband Matt and their two young daughters, Nora and June.  

 

Georgia and Tom’s younger daughter, Courtney, passed away on May 20, 2024 during what should have been a routine surgery. However, an undiagnosed case of advanced Endometriosis created an unexpected, complex surgical field in which Courtney’s Iliac vein was cut.

 

A graduate of Green Hope High School in 2011, Courtney went on to complete a degree in Special Education, graduating Suma Cum Laude from ECU. She earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Lenoir-Rhyne University and became certified and licensed in December 2019.

 

Courtney served as an ECU Ambassador, a member of Phi Mu Lambda Iota, and spent her summers as a North Myrtle Beach Patrol Lifeguard on Ocean Rescue Team 4. She helped with a local junior Special Olympics program and showed great love for helping children with special needs. She was compassionate, empathetic, and adventurous. She loved to run, rock climb, ski, hike, and sing karaoke with her friends.

In high school, Courtney began suffering from abnormal fatigue, severe mood swings, anxiety, and depression, especially occurring around her painful periods. She often complained about terrible stomach pains. She had issues with bowel movements, abdominal pain that was mistaken for recurring UTIs, and /or digestive issues. Georgia and Tom began helping their younger daughter get treatment for her mental health, simply not knowing that there was an underlying, hidden enemy of undiagnosed Endometriosis. This continued beyond college.

In 2019, Courtney was battling endo-related depression and wasn’t in a great place. Her best friend’s brother was running in the New York Marathon, and the family invited Courtney to join them in New York. She returned home and said, ‘I’m going to run the New York City Marathon," Georgia said, smiling at the memory. "Courtney was athletic, but she’d never been much of a runner. She decided to start right then and there by going out the door and running her first two miles. She came back tired and said, ‘That was hard.’ An hour later, she had signed herself up for the New York City Marathon! That was Courtney. Strong-willed and determined.” 

 

Despite her chronic pain, Courtney completed the marathon in 2022. Her mother, father, sister, and best friends (including the young man who inspired Courtney years earlier) were at the finish line wearing handmade, crazy bright green hats. They wanted Courtney to find them along the various checkpoints.

“When Courtney crossed that finish line, she and Casey embraced so tightly," Georgia remembered. "Casey just had her first baby and was having some postpartum symptoms. It was hard for her to be away from her newborn, but she wanted to be there for her little sister. It was one of the most incredible moments and a real turning point for Courtney. It was as though, in that moment, she learned that she could excel in life. The marathon helped her feel fulfilled and find her purpose.”

 

Following Courtney’s marathon accomplishments, her various abdominal pains persisted. In March of 2024, Courtney went to her OB/GYN to explore excessive bleeding and abdominal pain. After an examination, the doctor told her everything was normal. When he left the office, Courtney had a full-blown panic attack. A nurse came in to assist because Courtney kept saying, “Something’s not right. I just want to make sure I can have children.” The nurse suggested an ultrasound.

“Even then, no one listened to her,” Georgia said. "Courtney’s doctor, like most general OBGyns are not trained to recognize endo presentations. Medical professionals attempted to address her symptoms without taking a pause to discover the actual cause. I'm sure Courtney’s panic attack was probably heard halfway around the entire state!” Georgia said, shaking her head and laughing. “Courtney could truly advocate for herself, and she finally got their attention.”

 

During the ultrasound, the doctor discovered a large 6cm cyst on Courtney’s ovary. This was the first time endometriosis was even mentioned. She was scheduled to go back in April to see if the cyst was shrinking, and if not, they would schedule surgery. When Courtney returned for her follow-up appointment a month later, the cyst had grown to 9cm. They scheduled her for a routine ovarian cystectomy surgery.

 

Georgia, Tom, Casey, and Courtney’s boyfriend, Matt, formed a group text to keep each other updated on the day of the surgery. Courtney had moved to Denver, Colorado, and although the Craig family had not yet met Matt, he would be there with her the day of the surgery. 

 

“Courtney and I talked every day,” Georgia said, smiling, “sometimes several times a day. I was in Charlotte for a trade show event. Tom was deployed on an assignment with FEMA in Saipan, and in a very different time zone. Matt was our only connection while our daughter was in surgery. I remember telling Tom that I didn’t want to be in Charlotte, that I needed to be with Courtney.  She called me right before they took her into the operating room, and we chatted for a bit. I told her to call me or have Matt call when she was out. After the trade show ended, everyone went out to dinner. I went back to my room, waiting to hear from Courtney about how the surgery went. That’s when I got the call.” 

 

The call Georgia received was from the attending nurse practitioner, who explained that they had run into complications during the surgery. Courtney had a frozen pelvis, a severe, often end-stage condition where pelvic organs are bound together, causing extreme pain and infertility. The surgeon cut a vein. Courtney had bled out on the operating table. They resuscitated her, mended the vein, and took her to ICU where she was being carefully monitored.

 

“I called Tom and told him that I was booking a ticket for the first morning flight to be there when she awoke. I set my alarm, but told him to call me, too, just in case I overslept.”

 

Georgia set her alarm for 3 a.m., and when her phone rang, she thought it was her husband Tom. Instead, it was the hospital where Courtney was recovering. Her heart had stopped a second time. This time for twenty minutes. The nurse said a team of people was working to bring her back. 

"Is Jesus taking her home?" Georgia asked him. "He replied, ‘I can't answer that question.’ I said, ‘I can. Jesus has her in His hand, and He will either bring her to her home here with us or take her to His home. Either way, Jesus is taking her home. The nurse was very kind. He said he would call back shortly with more news. I hung up the phone, and I began to pray.”

The next call that came was the one parents fear the most. 

 

Courtney was gone. She had succumbed to acute blood loss anemia and shock. They called the time of death 11:06 PM MT. 

 

Time passed, and the Craig family, devastated as they were by the loss of their Courtney, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. 

 

“Casey and her sister were so close,"  Georgia said. "They loved each other. It was so hard for Casey.”

 

Since Courtney’s death, Georgia and her family have honored her life by helping The Endometriosis Foundation of America to improve funding for research and early detection. They also created an online platform called Team Courtney to fundraise for the Foundation by promoting any physical team activities that she would have loved (biking, skiing, tennis, pickleball, walkathons/marathons – full or half, even group strolls through the neighborhood). Casey, who has a marketing degree from Appalachian State University, is spearheading the platform.  

 

“Courtney put her all into everything she did!” Casey said. “I was most inspired by her running journey, and finishing a marathon was such a huge milestone for my sister to accomplish. It was so wildly out of left field, which is what is so amazing and why I want to honor her through Team Courtney.”

 

Over the last year, Casey explained that many of her sister’s friends have reached out simply to say they thought of Courtney that day while running. They can feel her presence, sometimes a squeeze of her hand. Others have reached out to let Casey know they, too, have endometriosis and know the pain her sister experienced. 

 

“Women are living without help or resources to improve their quality of life,” Casey explained.  We hope to change that by fundraising for the Endometriosis Foundation with Team Courtney. Doing this opens wounds for me, but it’s worth it because I want to help others in ways I couldn’t help Courtney.”

 

Georgia’s experience with her daughter makes her suspect that generalists  in the OB/GYN field need more specialized training for endometriosis. Women also need to listen to their bodies and push back when dismissed about their concerns. More people need to understand this dangerous condition that can kill. Sadly, even though endometriosis is a serious, debilitating condition, the surgery to remove endometrial implants and scar tissue is elective. Insurance does not cover the procedure. 

 

“What many people do not know or understand is that endometriosis is both pervasive and serious, with it affecting the lives of well over one in ten women worldwide. I will not have an indoor voice when it comes to educating other women, young girls, and whoever will listen that this hidden enemy is not one to be dismissed or ignored. I hear my daughter all the time. She wants her story to be heard. Life has purpose, and death has purpose. Courtney’s death was unfair and unjust. My heart is broken, but my spirit is not. I was grateful to see my adult Courtney find purpose, fulfillment, happiness, love, and all the things we want for our children as parents.”

 

Courtney’s endometriosis was only confirmed during surgery and at postmortem. 

 

Courtney Alice Craig 

March 30, 1993– May 20, 2024. Forever 31