Photo: “Traveling Banner” with (L-R) #1, Paula; #6, Barb; #10, Elaine; #8, Charlene; &, #5, Marina - Bathurst, New Brunswick

I know what you’re thinking. This article is a take on the 2005 book-turned-film about four besties who part ways for the first time. Friends from birth, literally, all born in the same month, literally. In a desperate move to hold on to their life-long connection they make a pact to share a pair of second-hand jeans throughout the summer. Despite being from different ethnical backgrounds and being different shapes and sizes, the pants fit each one of them. Are they magical?

Over the summer months, each girl begins a person journey filled with unpleasant surprises, unlikely alliances, unfolding adventures, and overwhelming changes. There are mistakes and missteps made, choices to be made, deceptions, truths and lies, trials and tribulations. There are lessons about submission and survival and life and death. 

Brave or timid, experienced or naïve, each girl must learn to overcome challenges, obstacles and disappointments. Two constants throughout the season of transformation remain: a vow, and a true sisterhood of acceptance and support.

Now, let me take you to my story that started in 2016. It was a Christmas morning like many others, steeped in tradition, gifts wrapped under the tree and sipping coffee with a hint of Irish cream. The excitement of opening gifts never gets old - socks, books, gadgets, chocolates, pajamas. I always get more gifts than my husband, simply because I come from a family of 10 children, and we’re all girls so we tend to be more generous, archaically stereotypic, but true. Usually, my husband has opened all his gifts well before I am done, and he shares patiently in my oohs and ahhs while I sift through my haul. This year, however, one gift is discovered from under the pile and the card read “Merry Christmas Steve, with much love and continued support from Barb and Charles.” 

Not a painting, not a poster, not a pair of second-hand jeans. Gently unfurling the tubular-shaped gift to reveal a banner that read: World Lymphedema Day, March 6, complete with a replica of the LE&RN artwork with teal colouring. 

A true gift of a pact, a vow, for continued support for my husband who suffers from lymphedema, since birth, literally, and who was born in the same month that WLD is recognized, again, literally.

Lymphedema (LE) is a disease -  LE&RN FAQs - Lymphedema

Lymphedema afflicts people from different ethnic backgrounds and different shapes and sizes and those who live with it, must wear it, and yes that is, literally. But is there a magical solution? Unfortunately, not.

The personal journey for lymphedema sufferers is not seasonal, but it does come with unpleasant surprises, unlikely alliances, unfolding adventures, and overwhelming changes. There are mistakes and missteps made, choices to be made, deceptions, truths and lies, trials and tribulations. There are lessons about submission and survival and life and death. 

Brave or timid, experienced or naïve, it is a struggle to overcome obstacles, obstacles and disappointments. For us, two constants remain – a vow to pursue solutions so my husband can enjoy a quality of life, and secondly, but of equal importance, a true ‘hood’ of love and support.

In our case, it is a sisterhood. Thanks to the loving gift that my sister gave to my husband years ago, the banner comes with us on our travels, hence… the traveling banner. We take every opportunity to snap some pictures with the banner, provide educational information about the disease, and promote WLD.

On a recent trip to my home province of New Brunswick (Canada), my niece, who happens to be the daughter of the gift-giver, told me about a woman she works with that has lymphedema. She said that if not for thanks to my husband, she never would have recognized the symptoms as lymphedema. She spoke to her co-worker who, in return, will be connecting with my husband, I know he will provide her with the information that she needs to help her with her own personal journey.

Although there are several LE chapters around the world, and new ones on the horizon, not every town has the opportunity to turn to one for advice, but that does not mean that LE doesn’t exist in rural communities and that help is not provided. Let me introduce you to another of my nieces, Jodie, who works for a major pharmacy outlet in Bathurst, New Brunswick, where she is the LE customer care assistant.  She has several clients and is responsible for measuring and ordering the proper compression garments, and providing advice and guidance. And, in this city of just 11,000 people, Jodie can refer clients to the local therapist, who specializes in lymphatic drainage and bandaging. 

We are forever grateful to those who dedicate their time and efforts to serving the LE community. Thank you. In return, we will continue to do our best to provide the support and care that everybody deserves.

Above is a picture with the WLD travelling banner. It could be coming to a place near you in the future!