<div><strong>Summary</strong>
</div>
<div>Only 2.5 years ago I was living a healthy life. Actively dancing, mountain biking, kayaking, snowboarding, scuba diving for work, and enjoying the beauty of my home in Squamish, BC. Rapidly, things started to change. My body started inexplicably taking on weight. I felt lethargic, pain throughout my arms and legs, unexplained swelling, changes in my heart rate, and hormones.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I have been provided with a diagnosis of Lipolymphedema (detailed below). Albeit, this is one piece of the puzzle it's not the whole picture of my health and its the one diagnosis where there is no treatment in Canada This is a chronic condition unfortunately, and there is no cure. However, there is a way to drastically improve my quality of life through surgery. This surgery is not available nor covered by our medical system in Canada, and costs a prohibitive 120k Canadian overseas.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This surgery will remove the fibrous tissues, improve lymphatic and vascular movement , and significantly reduce pain and increase mobility. The largest and most robust study on this is from Germany and is known as LIPLEG (see link below).
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Details</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Lipolymphedema</strong><em> </em>- my lymphatic system is overwhelmed and cannot drain fluid throughout my body properly causing incessant swelling in my hands, feet and limbs. The result is a compounding cycle of pain, swelling, immobility, and progressive tissue damage. Once lipedema moves to the comorbidity of lymphedema, the lymphatic system is burdened where less invasive treatments (e.g., manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments, swimming) cannot adequately address my symptoms. Without surgical intervention, lipolymphedema is resistant to treatment.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The tissue in my arms and legs has now progressed into a fibrous tissue now where it has become hard, painful and impossible to remove without surgery. My day to day these last 2.5 years has progressed to where I can barely walk somedays, a constant need to elevate my feet to reduce the blood pooling and swelling, and an inability to do many of the activities that I once loved without excruciating pain and burden. My work has also suffered because multiple days (and even hours) out in the field or ocean as a biologist is impossible to do. I love my work and my community, but I haven’t been able to support and participate in the many ways I have in my local networks. I miss mentoring, I miss contributing, I miss sharing - it is all so important to me and gives me purpose in this crazy human life. From being a local biologist always checking up on things, to mentoring women and friends on the rivers, to feeling the snow in my face laughing with friends. I want to be the best human I can be and I can’t do that right now and our medical system unfortunately SUCKS for getting me better.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Multiple surgeries is also not a decision I take lightly. It actually terrifies me to know that I will be undergoing major surgeries again. I thought after emergency back surgery I would never have to go back to a hospital again, sadly this isn’t what has transpired in my life.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why I Cannot Get This Treatment in Canada</strong>
</div>
<div>Despite living in Canada and having access to the public healthcare system, I have no treatment available to me here and neither does every one woman with this disease. Currently, Canada does not recognize lipedema as a disease unlike other countries (e.g., USA, Germany, Austria) and the 2019 International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Therefore, the condition is not well understood within the Canadian medical system, and there are no practitioners in specializing in lipedema surgery. Manual lymphatic drainage, which is one of the key conservative management tools, is also not an insured service in British Columbia.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The Canadian healthcare system does not recognize or fund medical interventions for lipedema or lipolymphedema, which leaves me with no options other than to seek treatment elsewhere.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Treatment Options - Germany</strong>
</div>
<div>Germany is the world leader in lipedema and lipolymphedema research and treatment. In July 2025, the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) recognized surgical removal of the affected tissue as medically necessary and is covered by Germany's statutory health insurance for all stages of the condition. Although the USA is much closer for treatment it is much more expensive, and therefore was outruled in my research.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What the Funds Will Be Used For</strong>
</div>
<div>I am hoping to raise $122,000 CAD to cover the surgery I have budgeted carefully. This includes:
</div>
<ul>
<li>Three surgeries in Germany.
</li>
<li>Post-operative manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) — Four (4) MLDs/week required after each surgery for six (6) weeks minimum.
</li>
<li>Medical-grade compression garments — required for post-surgical recovery and long-term management.
</li>
<li>Round-trip travel and accommodation for each surgical trips.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>After surgery, patients typically follow a structured recovery plan that includes wearing compression garments to reduce swelling and improve circulation, manual lymphatic drainage to support healing and minimize fluid retention, and a gradual return to activity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Timeline</strong>
</div>
<div>Lipolymphedema is progressive. The goal of treatment is: (1) to improve quality of life by managing symptoms; and (2) to prevent the condition from worsening further. Without surgery, the abnormal tissue and fluid accumulation will continue to compound, causing greater pain, reduced mobility, and increasing damage to the lymphatic system. Conservative management alone will not halt progression at this stage.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I have exhausted what is available to me in Canada. I am asking for help to access the only evidence-based, effective treatment that exists for my condition, in Germany where surgery is now formally recognized as a medical necessity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Every contribution helps me move towards being able to live my life again without the daily burden of this disease. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you prefer to an alternative means to send funds.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I understand money cannot be given by everyone and that is okay! I hope you can take the time to read a few resources, sign the petition, and write a letter to your Provincial Health Minister to help make this disease supported in Canada's medical system and improve women's health &lt;3</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>RESOURCES</strong>
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Petition to the Government of Canada</a>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Include lipedema within the scope of the National Women’s Health Strategy contemplated under Bill S-243;
</li>
<li>Support the development of national clinical guidance, education, and data collection related to lipedema;
</li>
<li>Work collaboratively with provinces, territories, clinicians, and patient organizations, including Lipedema Canada, to address the systemic gaps in diagnosis, care, and support for people living with lipedema; and
</li>
<li>Take all necessary measures to give effect to these requests.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.lipedemacanada.org/send-a-letter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Template Letter to Your Provincial Health Minister</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8652358/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR0bKZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5enNPT0NwcE9ZdXg0elBXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjztFtVKIPyQbotZboxGFeYuflAFfjPF4y8E-v85BUJKX5X3j_S5Tc_zxfri_aem_TZ-XP84OBChAU_Vwf2bTog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Standard of Care USA</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.lipedemacanada.org/patient-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lipedema Canada - Patient Resources</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.lipedemacanada.org/germany-approves-public-coverage-of-liposuction-for-lipedema-for-all-stages-based-on-lipleg-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LIPLEG Study Overview</a>
</div>

Adam Neil

Dayna Schultz

Anonymous

Michelle Fortier

Shilo Zhang

Burke McGuinness

Stace Naka

Kirsten Lee

Kayleigh Feschuk

Carissa Mo

Angie Quennell

Dianne Hanson

Geri LoGiacco

Tyler Sexsmith

Carly Blumberg

Crystal Kowalski

Help Me Access Surgery - Treatment Unavailable in Canada

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Me Access Surgery - Treatment Unavailable in Canada

Still $63,583 to go. Help us build momentum.