b'Congress, we need you to be the beacon of hope so that our children have a fighting chance. Weve been neglected by everyone, including the medical community.COLIN CONNOLLY Pittsburgh, PAJOAN SOKOLOWICZ Knowing my medical history (including cancer, a radical hysterectomy and lymph node removal) the ER doc cleared me to Greendale, WI leave the hospital and cleared me to fly to Indonesia. The doctor My lymphedema story began in 1997 when my right leg startedphysically checked off a box that said I was negative for swelling for no apparent reason. I didnt know that I hadlymphedema. Little did I know my life and body would neverlymphedema, but I was finally diagnosed in 2011. I stoppedbe the same again.wearing dresses, skirts, shorts, or capris. My compression stockingsMy journey, two years and tens of thousands of dollars later, most are no longer covered by my medical plan and Medicare will notnot covered by my BCBS insurance, has led me to advocacy and cover anything associated with this disease. I wouldnt wish this education within the lymphedema world. I am an ambassador for on anyone. The worst thing is the isolation. No one understandsJuzo, a leader in medical grade compression. Im also collaborating what I am going through and even my friends dont reallyon projects and patents to make our lymphedema lives easier.understand. It is very lonely having lymphedema. I am one ofIm asking my home state, Wyoming, the state where I grew up eight siblings but the only one with this. and currently live, to help. Please move this forward!LINDSEY SOSOVECJackson, WYNo one warned me about lymphedema. No one told me itcould happen to me. I honestly didnt even know the definition of lymphedema.While celebrating my birthday in the Guadalupe canyon outside of Tacate, Mexico, my right leg began to swell. Assuming I was bit by a bug, or had a strange reaction to something, I continued exploring, jumping off waterfalls and canyoneering. As I left the canyon for the U.S. border, my leg elevated on the dashboard of the rental van, I realized my next stop needed to be the emergency room.AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY 45'