Help Me Raise Funds for my essential Lipedema Surgery

Hi, my name is Jenni, and I’m a German living on the beautiful, rugged West Coast of Canada in a small community called Tofino. I moved here from Germany in March 2020, and the community has welcomed me with open arms. Most people know me as the Pastry Chef at the Tofitian Café, where I create delicious treats for locals and visitors from around the world. It brings me so much joy to see familiar faces enjoying my baked goods every day.

Unfortunately, I’ve been diagnosed with a very painful chronic condition called Lipedema, which affects my daily life, both at work and at home, as well as my mental health.

At 22, I began experiencing severe pain, heaviness, and unexplained weight gain in my legs. My legs became extremely sensitive, and bruises appeared without cause. Simple activities, like walking, became more and more painful. Despite maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly, I continued to gain weight, and nothing seemed to help.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Lipedema, a chronic and painful fat distribution disorder that is resistant to both diet and exercise. Since then, I’ve used compression garments and manual lymphatic drainage therapy, but these only offer temporary relief. Lipedema is a progressive disease, and my condition has worsened over time.

Every day, I wake up with pain and heaviness in my legs. My quality of life has been severely impacted, and the toll on my mental health is significant. Yet, despite everything, I’ve managed to stay positive, and I’m grateful for the support of my family, friends, and community.

After connecting with other women diagnosed with Lipedema, I learned that surgery can offer lasting relief. Some women who underwent the surgery are now pain-free, while others continue to struggle. In September 2024, I consulted a specialist in Germany and was diagnosed with Stage 2 Lipedema. The only long-term solution is surgery.

I’ve scheduled three surgeries for 2025 in Mülheim, Germany, to stop the progression of the disease. Germany is at the forefront of Lipedema research, which is why I’ve chosen to undergo surgery there.

I’d like to clarify that these are not aesthetic procedures, this is about improving my quality of life!

Unfortunately, even in 2024, it is a sad fact that these necessary operations are not covered by health insurance. The amount of the costs is impossible to cover on my own. I am able to cover a part of the costs.

Please help, if you can, so I can be pain free and get my life quality back - a little goes a long way! ‘Thank you ‘from the bottom of my heart for any support that is possible.

What is Lipedema?

Little is known about the cause of Lipedema. However, over the last few years, it has been intensively researched by several specialists and through various studies. What is known so far is that, due to the accumulation of cases among blood relatives, it is considered a hereditary disease affecting the fatty tissue in the legs and arms. In the vast majority of cases, the disease begins during puberty, but it can also occur after pregnancy or during menopause. Changes in female sex hormones are therefore assumed to be a factor in its development.

Research groups have also found an increase in inflammatory cells and their messenger substances in Lipedema tissue, indicating an inflammatory process. This explains the pain, swelling, and tendency to bruise. However, it remains unknown why this inflammation occurs in the fatty tissue, what role hormones play, or what hereditary factors are involved.

Lipedema is characterized by a localized fat distribution disorder affecting the legs and arms, always occurring symmetrically. The feet and hands are never affected. The course of the disease cannot be predicted in individual cases, but it is considered chronically progressive and is divided into three stages. Common to all stages are a typical fat distribution, lipedema tissue that is sensitive to touch or pressure, and the appearance of diffuse bruising without any idea where it comes from.

Important: The staging does not correlate with the severity of the symptoms.!!!

For more information please visit: https://lipoedem-gesellschaft.de/das-lipoedem/