At 35 years old, Dominique Rogers has faced and overcome many personal and physical challenges. When he was only 15, he received a lymphedema diagnosis. It took time to adjust, but the diagnosis didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams.
Today, Rogers works as a firefighter, exercises and runs daily, and has even completed several 5K races. He used to try to hide his swollen leg, but now he’s proud to model compression garments and raise awareness about lymphedema. He shares his story of living and working with lymphedema with the hope of inspiring others.
The Sports Injury That Changed His Life
“I was a very active child growing up,” says Rogers. “I loved sports and have played sports all my life. One day, when I was 15, I was playing basketball, and I came down wrong on my ankle. It swelled up, and my mom told me to put some ice on it.”
But within the next few days, Rogers’ entire leg was swollen. He ended up in the hospital and, within a week of his injury, received a diagnosis of lymphedema. “That was how I found out about lymphedema,” he says. “I didn’t even know what it was before then. It was a shock.”
Managing Lymphedema as a Teenager
When Rogers first received the diagnosis, his first questions were: When will this go away, and when can I start playing sports again? “When the doctor told me it would never go away, that I’d always be living with lymphedema, that really hit me,” he says. “I couldn’t just run around like kids do. I had to be more cautious due to the possibility of infections.”
He knew he would have to make adjustments in his life, and initially, he had some fears. But he was able to continue playing sports. He also learned about using compression garments, taking care of his skin, and the other ways people living with lymphedema manage their condition.
Facing Challenges With Cellulitis
“One of my biggest challenges is having infections,” says Rogers. “I get cellulitis infections in my leg, and to this day, I don’t know how or why I get them. But they affect me.” Cellulitis starts with inflammation that can lead to infection in areas affected by lymphedema. Rogers has been in the hospital many times, sometimes as long as two weeks, battling these infections.
Cellulitis typically happens after a skin injury in an area affected by lymphedema. Although Rogers is careful—his infections seem to come out of the blue. “I can be having a great week, working out, doing everything right, but the next thing I know, I can feel the infection coming on,” he says. “It’s very frustrating. But I’ve had to accept that these things happen.”
Working with Lymphedema: As a Firefighter and an EMT
Even with the bouts of cellulitis and the challenges of managing lymphedema, Rogers lives an incredibly active life personally and professionally. Many people in his place might choose a more cautious path, believing that having lymphedema requires a “safe” job—not Rogers. He began working as a volunteer firefighter, and eventually, fighting fires became his full-time job.
“I’m also a part-time EMT and drive an ambulance,” says Rogers. On some calls, he encounters patients with swollen limbs and enjoys talking to them about living with lymphedema. “I can connect with them on a deeper level.”
Spreading Awareness and Uplifting Others
In 2020, Rogers began telling his lymphedema story on social media, and he was surprised by the response. “People around the world started contacting me,” he says. Showing that he was a firefighter and EMT and could still care for his health inspired others. The visibility made him want to do more for the lymphedema community.
Over five months, Rogers lost three of the most important people in his life—his mother, brother, and grandmother. The experience made him realize he wanted to find new ways to serve.
He knew that getting through any challenge is a process: You must stick with it to see progress. At that moment, his awareness brand, Process2Progress, was born. It’s not only for people living with lymphedema, but anyone struggling to overcome a challenge.
Through his Instagram presence, Rogers raises awareness for lymphedema. On his website, he sells T-shirts and sweatshirts, and a portion of every sale goes toward helping people buy compression supplies. Everyone who purchases a shirt or sweatshirt gets their photo on the website’s “Wall of Awareness.”
Living With Lymphedema: Keep Doing What Works
With such a busy, full life, Rogers learned over the years that his health routine is critical to his well-being. His daily lymphedema management includes:
- Pumping in the morning: Rogers uses his Lympha Press Lympha Pants™ and Optimal Plus pump for an hour when he gets up.
- Compression during the day: He continuously wears a compression garment on his leg.
- Exercise: He works out in the gym and then walks or jogs a mile or two.
- Pumping in the evening: He uses his Lympha Press compression therapy system at night for another hour.
- Nighttime garment: He sleeps in a nighttime compression garment every night.
Rogers also understands how much diet impacts his lymphedema and his health overall. He’s learned that for him, red meat causes sluggishness and swelling, and he feels better on a lower-carb diet. But he emphasizes that everyone’s different and listening to your body is important.
Does Rogers ever feel limited by lymphedema? When he was younger, he thought he had to be cautious and felt self-conscious about the swelling in his leg. But these days, “No, I don’t feel limited,” he says. “I can’t say it’s never tough, but if you take one day at a time and stay consistent, it will work out. Everything’s a process.”
Connect with others living with lymphedema in our welcoming monthly Lymphedema Patient Roundtable. The Roundtable is a supportive community where you can find help, answers, and friendship.
