Help Me Fight Stage 3 Lipedema So I Can Stay Strong for My Kids

After losing over 80 pounds in my journey to reclaim my health, I expected to finally feel free in my body again. Instead, I learned that the pain, swelling, and heaviness in my legs (that has since progressed to my arms) were caused by Stage 3 lipedema, a progressive disease that diet and weight loss alone cannot treat.

Now I need specialized surgery to remove the diseased tissue and protect my mobility so I can continue raising my children and begin nursing school this fall.

For years, I have lived with symptoms I didn’t fully understand at the time — constant heaviness in my legs, swelling, pain, easy bruising, and increasing difficulty with everyday things like climbing stairs, standing long enough to cook a meal, or simply grocery shopping.

In December 2024, I made the decision to take control of my health and commit fully to changing my lifestyle. Since then, I am proud to say I have lost over 80 pounds. I feel stronger, healthier, and more motivated than I have in years.

While the scale has moved and my shirt and dress sizes have dropped significantly, my pant sizes haven't budged (classic lipedema). Lipedema fat behaves very differently from normal body fat — it is resistant to diet and weight loss, which explains why my legs have remained largely unchanged despite my hard work.

As lipedema progresses, the abnormal fat tissue can begin to overwhelm the lymphatic system and lead to secondary lymphedema, where fluid becomes trapped in the tissues. When this happens, swelling can become constant, skin can harden, infections become more likely, and mobility can decline significantly.

Because I am already in Stage 3, my specialist recommended treatment now to remove the diseased tissue before the condition progresses further.

Beyond the physical symptoms, lipedema affects everyday moments with my children in ways that are hard to explain. Something as simple as my youngest child climbing onto my lap can cause excruciating pain and immediate bruising. For the past three years, whenever he climbs up to sit with me or even hugs me tightly, I often can’t help but yelp out in pain.

As parents know all too well, that stage of life where your child just wants to climb into your lap doesn’t last forever. It breaks my heart that at his age now, he has started to avoid sitting with me simply because he doesn’t want to hurt me.

Many of you who know me personally also know that I was widowed in the fall of 2025 when my husband passed away from ALS. Our children watched as that disease slowly took his mobility, his strength, and eventually even his ability to speak. It was heartbreaking to witness and incredibly difficult for our family.

Because of that experience, I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent another disease from progressing in my body and forcing my children to watch something similar happen again.

My surgeries are scheduled for May and July with Dr. Amron, founder and medical director of The Roxbury Institute in California, one of the leading centers in the world for treating lipedema. Because this treatment is so specialized, I will need to travel to California for care, which means at least two trips across the country for surgery and treatment.

It was very important to schedule these procedures early in the summer so that I have time to properly recover before beginning nursing school this fall. Pursuing a career in healthcare means so much to me and maintaining my mobility will allow me to continue working toward that goal while also staying active for my children.

This surgery is not cosmetic. It is a medically recommended treatment to remove diseased tissue, reduce pain and swelling, and help prevent the disease from progressing further.

I have already paid the deposit to secure my surgery date, but the remaining balance for the first procedure — $32,800 due April 18 — is still needed. Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered by my insurance.

If you are able to help, any contribution, no matter the amount, truly makes a difference. Even small donations add up and bring me one step closer to receiving the treatment I need.

If donating isn’t possible right now, simply sharing this page with others would mean just as much and helps my story reach people who may be able to help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting my journey toward healing, mobility, and a healthy future for my family.