My name is Curtis Bumgarner. I am excited to announce that I am starting an Illinois Chapter for LE&RN and need your help! Please let me know if you want to get involved in raising awareness, educating our community, and connecting with one another.

 

My very first experience with LE&RN was this past fall at the New York Walk to Fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic Diseases, when we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I was so happy and grateful to find an organization that truly cares about the patients and the future of the lymphatic community! When I met a few key people involved, I knew I was in good company and that I wanted to help in a bigger and better way.   

 

For the past three years, I have been the President and CEO of Luna Medical, Inc., a company that was founded in 1996 to provide and bill insurance for compression garments to the lymphedema community. Oddly enough, in my mid-20's I had surgery in my abdomen and groin areas and was advised of the possible side effects of "edema" in my legs and ankles. At that time I had no idea what edema was or what it meant.

Soon after, I moved to Chicago, IL, where I began to manage fitness facilities and by pure luck I was introduced to Luna Medical and was hired. I started out as a Patient Care Specialist and was mentored by Marianne Luh (Owner/Founder of Luna Medical, Inc.) to be where I am today.

The affects and therapy of lymphedema, edema, and venous insufficiencies has been a part of my life for quite some time. Now with the intent of starting a LE&RN State Chapter in Illinois, I want to share what I've learned and bring together patients, survivors, practices, medical practitioners, and everyone else so that we can all learn, empower one another, and create change in the lymphatic community. 

 

I live for "one on one" moments with members of a community that is conscious about health and longevity... and it's been quite the rewarding experience to help those with lymphedema! So please, join me in this experience and help me to start an Illinois State Chapter. To get involved email me at ILChapter@LymphaticNetwork.org and let me know where in the Land of Lincoln you live so that we can network and make a difference... together!

 

Warmest Regards,

Curtis Bumgarner

Illinois Chairperson