Maria Long, USMC Retired, always knew she would live a life of service. After more than two decades as a Marine, she found a way to stay connected to the military and other veterans through her job at Lympha Press. As a VA Contract Specialist, she helps veterans with lymphedema every day.
An Early Call to Service
“I’d always been interested in the military and service in general,” says Long. “When I was 14, I toured the Naval Academy in Annapolis. I was just in awe, and it became my goal to go there. I was attracted to service but also wanted a regimented, organized setting. It’s the type of lifestyle I thrive in.”
Long applied to the highly competitive Naval Academy and got accepted. “I had a wonderful time there, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says. “It was hard; it had its moments, but looking back, I’m so glad I was inspired to go there because it played out well in my life.” She became part of only the tenth graduating class at the Naval Academy to include women.
Twenty-Three Years of Service
The Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy, and there were many Marines training at the Naval Academy. “The Marines were always the most impressive to me, so I decided I wanted to be one, and that became my next goal,” says Long.
Long became a Marine with a military occupation specialty (MOS) in intelligence. “But all Marines know they’re not going to serve in the same area the whole time,” she says. “You move around approximately every two to three years, so I served in areas besides intelligence.” After ten years on active duty, Long served another 13 years as a reservist.
Transition to Civilian Life
In 2015, Long retired from the reserves, but her life of service wasn’t complete. For the next year, she dedicated herself to establishing a swimming team for her twins, who were teenagers at the time. Establishing 757 Swim became Long’s focus, and the club grew into a large, thriving swimming program in the Williamsburg, Virginia area.
But after 757 Swim’s successful launch, Long felt called to continue serving. She learned about a sales position at Lympha Press through her husband’s recruiting business. Even though she had no personal experience with lymphedema, the position was ideal because it focused on interacting with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. “It was an opportunity for me to stay affiliated with veterans, but in a different role, so it appealed to me,” she says.
Continued Connection With the Military
During her time in sales for Lympha Press, Long worked directly with veterans in their homes to set up Lympha Press compression therapy devices. She then transitioned to a different position at Lympha Press: VA Contract Specialist. “This is more of a behind-the-scenes role,” she says. “But I get to handle orders from VAs across the country.”
She also handles administrative interactions with the VAs and ensures patients get properly set up with their Lympha Press equipment. “The best parts of this role are that I use the knowledge I gained working in VAs when I was in sales, and I still get to talk to veterans,” she says. “I get to call each veteran to let them know they have a Lympha Press order coming and answer their questions.”
Lymphedema in Veterans
Long’s role at Lympha Press is important because veterans may have a higher risk of lymphedema. The increased risk is due to:
- Amputation
- Combat injuries
- Shrapnel wounds
“Anyone, veteran or not, can develop health problems that lead to poor circulation and lymphedema,” says Long. Many veterans who use Lympha Press devices have lower-body circulation problems that cause lymphedema in the lower limbs.
Lympha Press Compression Devices for Veterans
All the Lympha Press compression garments and pumps are available to veterans and 100 percent covered by their VA benefits. Devices of particular interest for veterans are:
- Customizable amputee sleeve: It’s common to develop lymphedema after amputation. This adjustable, customizable device provides compression to all surfaces of the amputated limb to reduce swelling.
- Lower-body devices: Two options, ComfySleeve™ Leg Garments and Lympha Pants™, help veterans manage lower-body lymphedema. They’re customizable to fit any body size.
- ArtAssist®: The ArtAssist device increases circulation and is proven to help with healing and limb preservation. It provides therapy for veterans with peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetic foot ulcers, and other pain and circulation conditions.
“The ArtAssist isn’t available through most private medical insurances, but it is available to veterans through the VA,” says Long. “It’s a pump that treats poor arterial flow down to the feet.” Lympha Press provides ArtAssist through a partnership with the Veterans Health Administration’s Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) Program.
Veteran Camaraderie
When Long talks to patients, her service as a Marine doesn’t necessarily come up in every conversation. “When it does come up, many veterans want to tell me about their service,” she says. “I think it gives them a sense of comfort knowing that I share that experience.”
“When you join the military, you discover that across the services, there’s a shared bond among veterans whether they’re on active duty or retired,” says Long. “Once you’ve served, you have that common ground with other veterans forever.”
Love for the Job
“I’m so glad I continued as a reservist after active duty,” says Long. Being in the reserves kept her connected to the military service she loved. She misses many aspects of military service but finds her work for Lympha Press deeply gratifying. She loves serving and helping people, and having a job where she gets to help her fellow veterans is “the icing on the cake.”
Many veterans she speaks to are isolated and don’t feel well. “When I was a sales rep, I saw firsthand that many veterans lived alone,” she says. “I know it makes a big difference in their day for someone to call and help them out. Lympha Press allows me to stay involved in this capacity.”
Long also feels she truly understands the VA system, which allows her to assist veterans more efficiently. “Many of the people I talk to who work in the VAs are also veterans,” says Long. “Over the last seven years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of those folks as we work together. This common bond somehow makes things a little easier for everyone.”
At Lympha Press, we take pride in making life better for the veterans we serve. Watch the video: Serving Our Nation’s Veterans With At-Home Therapy.
