In spring 1997, when he was a Bluffton College student, Mark “Woody” Woods took a tumble during a race. Feeling invincible, he treated the injury with an over-the-counter antiseptic.

The wound developed an infection, leading to cellulitis. As the infection grew more serious, Mark discovered for the first time what lymphedema was. His right leg began to swell, and it took more than 25 years to finally find relief.

Lymphedema is chronic swelling that most often occurs in arms, legs, the abdomen and/or the head and neck. Cellulitis – a bacterial skin infection – can lead to lymphedema when it causes damage to the lymphatic system, a network of nodes, vessels and ducts that collect and return lymph fluid to the bloodstream.

Mark developed another serious case of cellulitis just before graduating from Bluffton, this time affecting his left leg. Mark’s fiancé, Christal, and his friends helped him navigate campus in a wheelchair as he recovered.

In 2017, after years of setbacks, Mark saw a doctor at The Ohio State University. The provider was one of few lymphedema experts in the world.

“You are not doing what you need to do to maximize your health," Mark recalled the expert saying. Mark reacted with depression and anger, letting lymphedema increase its grip. “He wasn't wrong, but I was despondent,” he said.

Each episode of cellulitis took him down for weeks with prolonged hospital stays. Hospital debt racked up. “Over the last 27 years – more than half my life – lymphedema and cellulitis have one-two punched me nearly constantly,” Mark said.

In July 2022, Mark felt another onset of cellulitis coming on. He went to the emergency department and was admitted to the intensive care unit. At that time, he was in heart failure and had developed sepsis. He was there for a week.

After that incident, Mark took steps to address his lymphedema. First, he had bariatric surgery. “Some will call that a shortcut, and they are dead wrong,” Mark said. In addition to the surgery, he changed to a low-carb diet.

The combination of surgery and diet led to weight loss totaling 350 pounds. The dramatic change impressed Mark’s healthcare providers and insurance company.

Mark continued his progress toward health. Physical therapy with Jeanie Lee of Aultman Therapy Services increased Mark’s mobility to the point where he could walk 3 miles most days. Most recently, Mark had procedures that removed excess skin and fluid from his legs.

Mark is happy to credit Aultman Therapy Services and his therapist, Jeanie Lee, for helping him regain his mobility – and his life. “My legs will continue to shrink and I’m looking forward to getting back to my walks after my surgeries,” he said.