My journey with lymphedema started when I was a sophomore in high school in the year 2013. I had just turned 16, and the school year was almost over. I was in the locker rooms changing into my gym clothes when I realized my right ankle was a little swollen. It seemed a bit odd that is was swollen because I hadn't twisted it, and I wasn't feeling any pain. I showed my mom when I got home and we agreed that it would probably go down in a couple days, but as the days passed the swelling remained. After about a week we decided it was probably time to see a doctor, and when we did he had no idea what could be cause the inflammation so I spent the next several months seeing doctors and specialists all over Southern California trying to figure it out. I was finally diagnosed with Primary Lymphedema at the start of my junior year. When I was diagnosed and they told me I would have to live with Lymphedema the rest of my life I became very depressed. I had to see a physical therapist a few times a week to learn how to manage my condition, but it just seemed to be getting worse and worse. The compression garments weren't holding me, and the exercises she had me doing weren't affecting my ever growing leg. As a few more months passes I received my wrapping kit and began my daily trips to the physical therapists so she could wrap my leg. This lasted a couple months because I was still in high school, and I was not the best patient. I didn't want to go to school with my leg wrapped because I was afraid of what people would think so I would take off the wrapping before I went to school and put on my compression garment but by the time I got home the swelling was already back to what it was before I wrapped it. Luckily my mom had learned how to wrap my leg so over the winter holiday she wrapped my leg everyday faithfully, and I was able to get fitted for a custom made compression garment. Since then I have grown so much as a person. I realize now how extremely lucky I have been. I have had so many resources that many others simply just don't have. Through the years I have learned to manage my lymphedema as best as I can. I wear my compression garments everyday and wrap my leg when I can, and I have learned to be happy again! I have also learned to not let Lymphedema control me, but this still isn't the life I had imagined for myself as anyone could understand. I believe we can find a cure and I intend to do my part in getting there! I pray for those who have not had the same opportunities and resources as I have, but I have faith that one day we will all find peace!