I don't think that "thank you" expresses the amount of appreciation I have. I am a recipient of the Marilyn Westbrook fund for my compression garments. I have quite a few chronic health problems - one of them being lymphedema. About a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Dercum's disease, which has caused lymphedema in moderate amounts in my legs and stomach, and minor in my arms. I have a durable medical equipment cap - which I reach with my diabetic (type 1) supplies. I have to pay 100% for my compression stockings and without the grant, I was unable to get the proper garments. Living a life with many chronic health problems can sometimes leave me feeling hopeless and you helped bring hope back to my life. I am married with a seven year old boy and a four year old girl. I want to be able to play with them with less pain. You have helped me be a better mom. Your kindness has greatly impacted my life and more specifically my physical and emotional health

God bless you and thank you,

April Rabillard

Dear Mr. Westbrook,

I am writing this note to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful garments that I am now using to treat my Lymphedema.

They are so much easier to use, and more effective than traditional wrapping.

My life has become so much more enjoyable, and it is all because of the great work that your foundation is doing.

Keep up the good work. I know that your wife, Marilyn, would be very proud of you!

With much gratitude,

Elizabeth Kober

Dear Doyle and Saskia:

One of my patients is a recent recipient of your generous compression garment program. She received 2 thigh high Solaris@ Tribute garments that she could not afford to purchase on her own. Since her medical insurance is Medicare her garments are not covered.

Until receiving these garments, my patient's daughter was attempting to bandage her but was herself not in good enough physical shape to continue doing so. My patient has been in and out of the hospital a few times in the past year with life threatening cellulitis due to venous insufficiency wounds and lymphorrhea excoriating both of her legs and feet. She was not able to go anywhere because of the copious amounts of lymph fluid leaking out of her legs. Having her new Solaris@ Tributes has given her back her quality of life. From the bottom of my heart I can't thank you enough for such a tremendous gift. Doyle, the commitment you have made in honor of your wife's memory is a beautiful tribute and I feel especially touched that one of my deserving patients has been able to "live again" through your generous program.

Saskia, what can I say except that you are the "glue" that keeps our ever growing lymphedema community together and the facilitation of the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Program is just another great reason why the NLN is so very crucial to the survival of lymphedema programs all around the world.

Yours With Gratitude,
Mary Rosenberg, CLT-LANA
(on behalf of Barejouhi Kourkounian)

To: Doyle Westbrook and the NLN

I cannot express how many times since receiving my nighttime compression sleeve hat I have cried over it. It is because of the gratitude I feel for the National Lymphedema Network's and Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund's understanding of what it is like to lose the ability and the financial means to take care of oneself.

Once I was asked by a medical professional why I "only" had Medicare and why I didn't plan ahead. I did.

In the span between 1998 and 2001 I had had five back surgeries. The costs were so astronomical I went through all my money, a $30,000 annuity, sold my car, and used credit cards for prescription drugs. The pain medications alone are over $375 for two prescriptions a month, so that I am able to dress myself and walk around. The costs from the stage three breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation were also very high and 1 now have to worry about an additional $250 a month, for five years for cancer medication.

With the severe lymphedema problem that affects my left arm, hand, chest wall mass and breast mass I must always have compression garments on all day and all night, Since compression garments only last three to four months it can become extremely expensive to treat lymphedema, which makes it important that the NLN and the MW Garment Fund continue to help not only myself, but others. Thanks to these two organizations, and their donors I do not have to worry as much about the costs for the care of my lymphedema.

Again, thank you for your caring and understanding.

Dorothy C. Hansen

To Doyle Westbrook:

I can hardly find words to thank the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund and the National Lymphedema Network for their wonderful contributions to increasing lymphedema awareness, as well as the generous donation that was made on behalf of my needs for lymphedema garments. I have only begun to see the progress that medicine has made in its understanding of lymphedema; however, the field of study has the potential to make significant achievements in growth and awareness.

Your organization has @uly dedicated itself to lymphedema awareness and education, and because of this, you were able to help someone like myself who could not afford garments for management of my condition. I have been battling primary lymphedema since birth. It was only recently that I began to receive proper treatment for my condition. In the past I was told that the disease was not manageable. I received liposuction each year on my right leg and right arm and used a compression pump for the first 14 years of my life; Additionally, I wore compression garments that seemed to make the swelling worse. Throughout this period my family continued to pay out of pocket as insurance companies fought to say that the treatment was maintenance or for cosmetic reasons. Due to what I believe was a result of poor medical management and understanding, when I was fourteen I was hospitalized with a pleural effusion in both lungs which turned out to be chylous lymphatic fluid. I spent three months in the hospital being treated as nothing more than a guinea pig. From that point, management of my lymphedema was minimal with the fear that aggressive therapies would return the fluid to my lungs. The lymphedema also began to spread to my left upper and lower extremities during that period.

Currently, I am attending Columbia University to receive my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Throughout my volunteer and work experiences, I have encountered many who face. similar uncertainties about the prevention and progression of their lymphedema. This summer I started a month long treatment at The Norton Clinic for Lymphedema in New Jersey and continue to make amazing gains with manual lymph drainage and complex decongestive therapy. It was only because of my faith and understanding in complex decongestive therapy that I decided to commit to life long management utilizing this form of treatment. I've lost about 3 112 liters in my right leg and almost a half a liter in my left arm. I feel absolutely great and only hope to continue to make gains. As a full time student at Columbia University, I was not able to afford proper Circaid compression garments for nighttime use. With the help of the National Lymphedema Network and Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund, I will continue to make gains in managing my own condition, so that I can one day be a part of educating others who struggle to do the same.

I thank you for all of your kindness and hope that you continue to do what you do best. There are so many people out there that could use your help. I will continue to do my part as well. If there is anything I can do for your organization, whether it be as a patient or a soon to be physical therapist, I will gladly assist you in any way I can.

Thank you,

Dana DiMari

To: NLN, Doyle Westbrook

Words cannot express my gratitude for receiving the lymphedema sleeve through your foundation. It's wonderful that Marilyn Westbrook had the vision to create this foundation.

Gratefully yours,

Rita M. Silva

Dear Saskia R.J. Thiadens, R.N.,

Many thanks to you and the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund for the gift of a new set of Circaid Graduates below the Knee "moon" boots.

My only income is a small monthly social security check. With my medical bills from a recent nursing home stay I wouldn't have been able to puchase a new set to replace the older set I have been using. I really appreciate the gift from the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund.

May God bless.

Yours Truly,

William Burket

To The Marilyn Westbrook Foundation:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a recipient of the Lymphedema Foundation. It will give me a chance for freedom and to wear the clothes and shoes I want and I won't be afraid of people staring at me in the community. I now can get in and out of the tub without falling because my balance has gotten so much better. I know these garments will help me with my medical problems because it will help prevent my legs from swelling.

I hope the Foundation gets more recognition so others like myself can benefit from their funds as well. Everyday life will get easier for me thanks to your generosity and give me a sense of freedom in my mobility.

Gratefully Yours,

Marian Santiago

Dear Marilyn Westbrook Fund,

Thank you so much for the help concerning our daughter Allyson Hannah. It is a joy in our tiny world to know that people exist with such open hearts, and insights.

We are spreading the word on the new treatments for Lymphedema. And our fondest thoughts are with you all daily.

Tom Hannah, Marianne L. Hannah
Spring 2009

To whom it may concern:

I want to thank you and the Natioanl Lymphedema Network, for you great generosity because you have collaborated to my wellbeing, by donating to me the Leg Garment. It's been over one month I've been using the garment, and it has made a great deal of good to my legs, I feel so much better in the mornings because I wear it at night, and what a difference it makes through the days. Since I've been using this garment the legs is much less swollen, the fluids is less, I feel lighter when I walk, and I am able to do my house chores much easier.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, and I am so proud to be part of this organization, that makes a difference on people's lives, and it certainly made a difference in my and the way I feel. Thank you and may God bless you.

Sincerely Yours,

Maria R. Silva

Dear Mr. Westbrook, Ms. Thiadens:

Just wanted to let you know that Bekki has received the compression sleeve that your fund so kindly paid for. We feel that it arrived just in time as her old garments were not fitting tightly enough and were thoroughly worn out. Her arm volume had begun to increase at almost all measurements and she had to go back to bandaging at night. Hopefully, now with the better fitting garment, her arm will improve again.

A big thank you to the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund for helping Bekki and others like her. You are doing a wonderful work in the world.

Sincerely,
Karen Crippen (Bekki's mom)