After having had breast cancer, many of us want to do something that makes treatment and coping with the long-term effects of breast cancer easier for others affected by the disease.
In 2007, Rachel Levin Troxell and Robin Miller, both breast cancer survivors, met in a doctor’s office after discovering they had lymphedema.
They went to find a compression sleeve for their lymphedema and were dismayed at their options – or lack thereof. All they found were garments that were very rough textured, heavy, hot, beige and bandage-like. A lifetime of wearing a garment like that was depressing and frustrating.
Rachel was already a proven entrepreneur after creating a business filming documentaries for families and businesses. She went off to develop a garment that she would want to wear.
As a triathlete, she was aware of sports compression garments and wanted to meld the look and feel of those with the required graduated medical compression to the ones that had been on the market for decades. She wanted to create a sleeve that would be moisture wicking, breathable, and silky to the touch. She wanted the lymphedema sleeves to come in colors that didn’t cry out “I’m sick!”
Rachel and Robin developed the LympheDIVAs Medically Correct Fashion garments. Entirely designed and made in the US, these garments opened the door for women to have a choice in what they needed to wear for lymphedema garments and feel good about wearing them.
Starting with solid colors, LympheDIVAs launched and changed the industry.
Other companies followed with lymphedema sleeves in alternate colors, but LympheDIVAs kept innovating by adding patterns, crystal designs and a new gripper band that didn’t use silicone.
Unfortunately, Rachel’s cancer metastasized in late 2007 and she passed away on January 22, 2008. Before she died, she asked her father, Dr.Howard Levin and her brother, Josh Levin to continue her mission.
Rachel’s determination and compassion to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors is very much ingrained in the spirit of LympheDIVAs. Her family hopes that LympheDIVAs compression apparel will continue to inspire breast cancer survivors everywhere to feel as beautiful, strong and confident as Rachel was.
LympheDIVAs…To Be Continued in February 11th post
Visit…www.lymphedivas.com
Source: Josh Levin, President, LympheDIVAs
