b'SHARON SWEETMAN DR. SHERI PRENTISSPost Falls, ID Chicago, ILI had four back surgeries in 2016. The lymphedema came on I was a successful practicing physician, overseeing the slowly but I am now unable to attend church and leaving the Occupational Medicine and Employee Health Departments of house is almost impossible due to the pain. the largest healthcare system in Illinois when a diagnosis of lymphedema completely disrupted my entire life. Breast cancer treatment left me disabled from lymphedema in my right upper CINDEE THOMPSON extremity, stripping me of my life-long dream of being a practicing Orofino, ID physician. I was subsequently terminated from my executive management position while on FMLA during physical therapy for I have Primary Lymphedema in both legs. It takes my whole treatment of my lymphedema, and I had to completely reinvent day to manage but now I have open chronic wounds due to notmyself after 16 years of clinical practice. being able to afford custom garments. Medicare does not coverI went on to become a best-selling author and highly sought after even part of the expense! Instead, I have to go to wound clinicphysician leader, but my journey was not without its challenges. twice a week. How is that cost effective?? Lymphedema was a secondary blow to my physical and emotional well-being. I wondered if I would never be able to get on with my LYDIA DEMPSEY life. I experienced high levels of psychological, social, sexual, and Glendale Heights, IL functional morbidity. Witnessing the disparity among African American women with this disease, I created a 501c3 nonprofit I woke up one day at age 33 when my life flipped around. I wasorganization, the LIVE Today Foundation, Inc., which provides diagnosed with a disorder of degenerative disc disease and I havefree compression garments to under-resourced cancer survivors had eight back-related surgeries. As a result of those surgeries,living with lymphedema. I also support other grassroots I now have lymphedema in my legs and feet. I have problemsorganizations, like LE&RN, that are making an impact inkeeping a job and keeping pain at bay with flair ups. Im afraid ofthe lives of individuals with this disease.using salt, any salt. I cry daily in the shower from frustration and pain. Im 46 but feel like 86. No help from doctors or insuranceare you kidding me? This crippled me and I get no help? My life isBECCA SAJBELover and I feel I ruined my husbands life by marrying him.Palatine, ILHonestly, its so sad that no one will help out this disease orMy name is Becca. I am 26 years old and have primary whatever this hell is called. Its sad that this is not taken as seriouslylymphedema in both my arms and legs. I found out at 13 through a as other similar illnesses. Its also so financially draining! Tons of bunch of tests. I couldnt run like the other kids, had a hard time money spent on compression socks, pants, and wraps. So many onfitting in, and couldnt move as easily. Lymphedema has robbed the market are no good or dont last long. Being told that its fixableme of my life. I dont have normal functionality in my legs and if one gets treatment quickly but irreversible if ignored too long!arms. I cant get regular treatment because even with insurance its What!? My doctor doesnt take it seriously enough, just says to weartoo expensive. I cant get equipment I need and I cant get new compression socks. What? I cant even get socks on me! Im notgarments every six months like the doctor tells me. I have a hard happy that people dont care enough? time fitting in at the workplace and getting accommodations.People shouldnt have to live in skin they are being tortured by.I cant walk very far. I cant get in and out of my car that easy.Skin is largest organ of body. This should be a huge priority Again, Im 26. I shouldnt have these issues. I should be able to for research. manage a horrible disease with affordable healthcare. Doctors dont even know what this is! They spend a daytopslearning about the lymphatic system and meanwhile people like meBARBARA LAMBERT suffer with improper care and no cure. Do something! Help me Granite City, IL so I can have a better life and maybe even be able to share it with I am a teacher, mother, grandmother, wife, and breast cancersomeone else. Im 26.survivor. Now adding caretaker of myself to that list. Its fine, I can handle it. But living life after cancer should be joyful. Sitting in aDIANE SCHUMACHERlymphedema pump EVERY DAY is not joyful! Taping, washing garments, and trying not to complain is not joyful. Paying for Springfield, ILall of this is not joyful. The fact that doctors dont know enoughI was an eight-month baby and lived with constipation my entire about it to help is not joyful. I dont want to be just a survivor. life. Nine years ago, at the age of 64, lumps started appearing on my I want what you have: the possibility of enjoying my life again. legs. Home remedies seemed to keep them under control. Then my mother died four years ago. After getting home from the one day wake and funeral in Chicago my legs had swollen like balloonsand were weeping liquid like a waterfall. A trip to the ER got me admitted to the hospital for a three day stay. After first telling me AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY 18'