Dr. Sheri launched the LIVE Today Foundation to respond with compassion to the survivor communities’ post-operative breast cancer treatment needs. 40% of the 3 million breast cancer survivors living in the US suffer with lymphedema, and that number is higher in minority and under-resourced communities where there is more need and less ability to pay for treatment. Responding to the global impact of lymphedema, the LIVE Today Foundation has expanded its reach to include not only survivors, but also cancer patients in active treatment.

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​The LIVE Today Foundation

is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide FREE COMPRESSION GARMENTS to patients and survivors with lymphedema.

​Managing a cancer diagnosis is tough for anyone. For the more than 40% of patients & survivors who also become afflicted with lymphedema, this second diagnosis sends a second painful shock through our physical, emotional, and financial lives. Unfortunately, many living with lymphedema suffer with:

• ​NO medical treatment and
• ​NO psychosocial support.

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​​Dr. Sheri’s unique insider perspective as a survivor with lymphedema, a physician, and an international health advocate allows her to see a troubling reality for the vast numbers in low income, minority communities:

• ​Increased double diagnoses
• Increased deaths from cancer
• Increased barriers to care
• Increased preventable suffering

​In 2017, Dr. Sheri set out on a mission…

To enhance the quality of life for cancer patients (in active treatment), survivors (finished treatment), metavivors (cancer spread to vital organs), and previvors (predisposed to a cancer diagnosis) with lymphedema by meeting their related physical, financial, and psychosocial needs.
​

Her vision is

To LIVE in a world where no lymphedema survivor struggles without medically essential compression garments because of cost.
​

To solve the lymphedema dilemma, Dr. Sheri founded the LIVE Today Foundation.

The Lymphedema Dilemma

​Physical

When a survivor develops lymphedema, any of the following may occur:
Her lymph nodes stop draining liquid waste from her blood.

• Liquid backs up in her arm and hand.
• Her arm and hand swell mildly or severely.
• The swelling occurs immediately, in the post-treatment period, or several years later.
• The swelling causes severe pain.
• The swelling grossly deforms her arm.
• Her arm becomes infected again and again.
• Her arm becomes heavy.
• Her skin loses elasticity.
• Her swollen arm no longer fits into her wardrobe.
• Her arm becomes disabled.
• She becomes unable to perform the functions of her job.
• She becomes unemployed.
• She becomes unable to perform household tasks.
• She needs assistance with daily care activities.
• She experiences serious disturbances in her quality of life.

The LIVE Today ​Solution

LIVE Today!

The LIVE Today Foundation is the only nonprofit to provide compression garments to survivors with lymphedema because of their inability to pay.

Compression garments are the most effective treatment for managing lymphedema symptoms, and they are essential! Without treatment, symptoms worsen.
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​LIVE Today bridges the gap between the public health needs of minority and under-resourced communities and medical treatment resources.

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The Lymphedema Dilemma

​Financial

When a survivor develops lymphedema, any of the following may occur:

• Insurance companies may not cover her new medical expenses for compression garments.
• She must buy compression garments out-of-pocket if she wants to reduce her suffering.
• Her compression garments will cost between $80 and $300 per set.
• She must buy new compression garments every six months, because they lose effectiveness with daily use.
• She is forced to survive with NO TREATMENT due to cost.

The LIVE Today Solution

​LIVE Today!

The LIVE Today Foundation aims to assist survivors with lymphedema who are suffering without treatment because of their inability to pay for compression garments. We look forward to supplying you with beautiful, effective compression garments.

The LIVE Today Foundation seeks support to meet this large financial need for low-income lymphedema survivors.

• Are you a survivor who is able to pay for your compression garments? Give to LIVE Today and join the LIVE Today movement! We’ll thank you with one compression garment set for you and donate the rest in your name.
• Are you a friend or family member of a lymphedema survivor? Give to LIVE Today and join the LIVE Today movement to support her much needed treatment.
• Are you an advocate, ally, or goodwill ambassador for low-income, minority breast cancer survivors with lymphedema? Give to LIVE Today and join the LIVE Today movement! We will be ever so grateful for your support.

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​The Lymphedema Dilemma

​Psychosocial

• When a survivor develops lymphedema, any of the following may occur:
• She feels shocked and hopeless by this second diagnosis.
• She feels embarrassed by her swollen arm and hand.
• She develops sexual inhibitions.
• She resents wearing ugly, uncomfortable compression garments—a daily reminder of her battle against two diseases.
• She feels guilty for complaining when at least she’s surviving.
• She exhibits higher levels of psychological, social, sexual, and functional morbidity than women with breast cancer who do not develop this complication.
• She becomes depressed.
• She becomes distressed.
• She withdraws from social interactions.

The LIVE Today Solution

​LIVE Today!

The LIVE Today Foundation supplies lymphedema survivors with an effective tool for restoring a healthy body image, strong self-esteem, and sexual confidence.

The compression garments we provide are designed by manufacturers who have combined function with fashion and fun so they are

• medically effective
• stylish
• comfortable
• a beautiful reminder to

​LIVE Today!

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Join the LIVE Today Movement!
Thank you for your support!