05/13/2026
After years of living with painful lymphedema, Elizabeth finally found relief thanks to generous Bon Secours Foundation donor support and innovative treatment at Bon Secours — Maryview Medical Center. Her journey is a testament to the impact of community giving and medical advancements!
For more than a decade, Elizabeth Brown has battled lymphedema. Her condition causes fluid retention and painful swelling in her left leg. Thanks to the generosity of donors, she’s finally found relief. Donors support investments in new innovative lymphedema treatments here in Hampton Roads.
“It took awhile for me to get diagnosed,” Elizabeth says. “And lymphedema is progressive — it got steadily worse and worse. By the time I got connected with a lymphedema therapist and started treatment, it had progressed to the point of needing surgery.”
Thanks to donors’ generous support, Elizabeth was able to receive lymphovenous bypass microsurgery from Dr. Kyle Xu at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. Using an advanced, high-powered surgical microscope funded by donor gifts, Dr. Xu successfully rerouted her lymphatic flow to prevent fluid buildup in her leg. Elizabeth went home the same day and experienced minimal pain.
“I’ve noticed a really big difference,” she says. “Prior to my surgery I had to wear my compression stocking from hip to foot 100 percent of the time. As soon as I took it off, I would feel the lymph fluid start to tighten my skin. Now, I can take it off for hours at a time with no swelling.”
