In the fall of 2024, Roxie Dove received a diagnosis of lymphedema. Her physician advised her to begin treatment as soon as possible, specifically recommending compression wraps to help with the painful swelling in her legs. Roxie called several therapy clinics in the area, only to discover that very few offered the treatment she needed—and the one facility that did had a wait time of three months.
As her condition progressed, daily movement became more and more difficult. “It had gotten to the point where I could barely walk from my room to the bathroom,” Roxie recalled. When her long-awaited appointment was pushed back yet again—this time to January—she felt hopeless. “I literally cried in desperation,” she said.
Then, in an unexpected moment of grace, Roxie stumbled across a Facebook post featuring a familiar face: a longtime friend and the head of the therapy department at Summit Square. The post highlighted Summit’s new outpatient services, including lymphedema therapy.
“It felt like an answer to prayer,” Roxie said.
She reached out immediately and was quickly scheduled to begin treatment with occupational therapist Ashley at Summit Square. Roxie began visiting three times a week for manual lymphatic drainage massage and compression wraps. Over the course of three months, the swelling subsided, the pain lessened, and her mobility returned.
“Lymphedema isn’t curable, but it is controllable,” she shared. “Ashley helped me understand my condition and the steps I can take to manage it. She gave me my life back.”
Roxie now uses Velcro wraps independently at home and has added vibration therapy to her daily routine. She’s feeling stronger, more confident, and is preparing to begin treatment for her upper legs.
“If you struggle with pain and mobility issues from swollen legs,” she says, “give Kelly Butler a call at Summit Square and get an appointment with Ashley. It will change your life.”
