Had melanoma and needs compression stockings and manual lymphatic drainage

Nikita is 27 years old and a single mum raising a beautiful girl who has had her own fair share of health issues with two open heart surgeries, after a four year roller coaster ride managing with that she was told that her daughter will not require any more surgeries until she is a young adult. 1 month later in 2013 Nikita was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. She has had lymph nodes removed and now has lymphedema (excess fluid in tissues) this can be very debilitating and painful, Nikita is always at high risk of infection. This is going to be lifelong for her. Nikita is yet to be fully cleared completely cancer free there is a 5 year period) but she now needs treatment for this condition which as seen her go from a size 8 shoe to a size 10 due to the swelling in her foot and leg it has also moved up her leg and into her hip and lower back. The treatment consists of special compression stockings and manual lymphatic drainage. This will be over a two week period (for 1 stocking and she needs 2). The material is very heavy and bandaging will go right down to her toes so she will not be able to wear shoes for 2 weeks or go to work, which also means loss of income. The compression bandages alone are $1500 and the treatments are $200.Then there is the travel to get the treatment (not done in Hamilton) and the loss of income from not working.

If Nikita’s Lymphedema is not correctly treated this could lead to increased swelling and hardening of the tissue, resulting in decreased function and mobility in her leg. It can also lead to chronic infections and other illnesses.