Shonalee needs your help ...... Have you heard of Lipedema?
Shonalee is in need of non cosmetic Liposuction due to Lipedema as she is facing loss of mobility and is suffering severe pain.
Mangawhai, Northland
Lipedema is a long-term, chronic disease of fat & connective tissue it builds up in legs, hips, bottom & arms. Lipedema fat is encapsulated with fibrotic tissue creating nodules of fat, causing easy bruising, extreme pain and the feeling of heaviness, swelling and loss of mobility worsening as the Lipedema progresses making daily activities difficult at times unachievable. Lipedema does not respond to diet & exercise like ordinary fat. There is no funding available for treatments or surgery in NZ even though as it progresses it causes loss of mobility & intense pain.
Shonalee has found this both humiliating & heartbreaking & has been embarrassed to ask for help.
After being officially diagnosed with this painful debilitating disease in 2022 & doing a lots of research, trying everything humanly possible to keep her progression to a minimum with little success - including wearing compression garments, a vibration board twice a day, medical grade compression legs pumps twice a day for hours, lymphatic drainage massage twice a week- none of which are funded. Her pain has become unbearable & is impacting all aspects of her life on a daily basis, it's starting to take a toll on her mental health. Surgery has now become a high priority as the Lipedema is progressing & quickly causing excruciating pain & some loss of mobility. Without the surgery she will lose more mobility & eventually will be unable to work.
This non funded surgery will be life changing for her, please help!
Tracey Bowman's involvement (page creator)
I am a friend of Shonalee's who has seen first hand the extreme pain and mobility issues she is suffering.
Use of funds
Specialized Liposuction - Dr Beulink, Medications, Medical Grade Compression. If the goal is not met the funds will still be donated to Shonalee to put towards her surgery.
Latest update
Counting down ... 10 July 2024
Just a little update for all you kind people. With what feel like forever surgery is now only 8 weeks away. I am feeling anxious but I am undeniably looking forward to being pain free & gaining my full mobility back. There has been a lot of progression resulting in more loss of mobility & addition medication to help with the pain. Things are very challenging at the moment but I am looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel and am very grateful to each and every one of you that has donated, cooked meals and helped in other ways.
As I still have a little way to go to reach my goal could I please ask if you are able to share the give-a-little page on social media platforms and with family and friends as every little bit raised will help and be so thankfully be appreciated.
I will do another update closer to my surgery date the 3rd of September.
Again thank you all so much 🙏💖
Latest donations
Jacqui, thank you so much for very generous donation. Your kindness and dedication in supporting me through this from the time of my diagnosis is so gratefully appreciated. What Heart Place Hospital has done and continues to do to help support carers is just amazing ! Again thank you from the bottom of my heart xxx
Thank you so much Anita xx
Thank you so much Vanessa. Hope all is well with you and your family xxx
Thank you Mum xxx
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