Heal Katie Baker

Updated February 13 2021:

Covid is almost over so I can start to dream again about being free of lipolymphedema and being healthy.  I will one day be free to live my life without physical limitation!  The journey to a healthy able body has been a little more challenging for me than others but I will get there too.

Surgery #1 International

$15,000

Surgery #2  +$25,000

Surgery #3 +$40,000

Surgery #4 +$55,000

Total #$70,000

Compared to Treatment in Canada Goal of $220,000 WOW!!!!!!!!!!! A new healthful Life is within view!  All help is appreciated. Thank you for helping my children have the able mother that they deserve!

Here is a little about me:

My name is Katie,  I have two kids, Abby(9.5) and Ben(3).  I am only 32, I have been disabled for over 2 years.



I have a condition called Lipolymphedema which causes pain, swelling, immobility and so much more .  
During my first pregnancy, my legs blew up like balloons! 

My doctor and I never really thought anything of it, we figured, pregnancy comes with many discomforts and this just happens to be one of them.  After losing the baby weight and then some with help from a gastric bypass... totaling 150lbs, my legs didn't shrink an inch! 

My legs continued to grow.  I saw many doctors and specialists and one vein specialist, in passing, mentioned Lipedema.  I don't think he wrote it in my chart or mentioned it to my family doctor - and if he did, it Lipedema was probably considered a 'typo' for Lymphedema.  At the time,there was little research on Lipedema, only a handful of doctors treated the condition world wide, but none in North America. 

Finally after while pregnant with my son, the pain became so excruciating that I had to leave the work force.  Some days I can't walk due to the pain despite on a number of medications and painkillers.



From my continued research about Lipedema I found that liposuction would be able to ease the pain and potentially give me my life back, but because the treatment is not covered by my healthcare, I can't work due to the the progression of this condition, I assumed that a normal, full, pain free life was just not in the cards for me. 

After months of intense prayer, by my family, friends, and church elders, it came to my attention that through Online fundraising I could possibly be able to afford to start the treatment process.

For more info about me visit my blog at www.askatie.com

Lipedema looks to most of us, just like normal fat. Even those of us who have Lipedema blame ourselves for the fat accumulation despite constant diet and exercise.  We are fat shamed and laughed at for having 'cankles'.  This unfortunate condition causes an accumulation of abnormal fat cells in the legs and upper arms.  The fat continues to build, especially during times of hormonal changes like pregnancy, until it eventually affects the lymph system, nerves and veins.  There are 4 stages to Lipedema and I am stage 4 meaning my condition has progressed far enough to affect other areas of my body, causes intense pain and impedes my daily activity.   It especially impacts my children.  Having a disabled mother has forced my daughter to grow up much faster than I would have liked,  she has been amazing with helping me care for her baby brother.




There is hope for the next generation!  Once a diagnosis is made, you can slow the progression of this condition.  Unfortunately, the condition is not well known, so it often goes undiagnosed.  We don't have a cause, and the only treatment is liposuction.

In Canada liposuction is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore not covered by provincial healthcare despite it being the only proven effective treatment for Lipedema.
Beyond getting treatment for myself, I hope to raise awareness for Lipedema and help others find funding to receive treatment and get their lives back.

  I want to spend the rest of the time I have left raising awareness and funding for those of us suffering with Lipedema.
I welcome all forms of support and encouragement.  Thank you for taking the time to read my story.


To learn more about Lipedema visit - https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/lipedema-symptoms-treatment-causes 

#Lipedema #Lipedemaawareness #Helpme #medicalfundraiser #Savemylife #Lipedemasufferer #Thediseasetheycallfat #painfulfatcondition #Lipoclinic