Winnipeg lipedema advocates ‘feel truly seen’ after Manitoba legislature honour

A Winnipeg woman at the forefront of fighting for lipedema patients in Canada was honoured at the Manitoba legislature Wednesday.

Emma Cloney, a resident of Wolseley and the vice-president of Lipedema Canada, was recognized for her advocacy work.

“This is hope that a disease that has gone completely unrecognized in Canada is now being spoken about in government,” Cloney told CityNews.

Lipedema is an illness that causes painful fat buildup and swelling in the arms and legs. The more severe it gets, the more immobile the person becomes.

Canadians with this illness have been fighting for recognition for years, saying there’s no standard of care, often leaving them paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for care outside the country.

At the end of March, a new organization was founded Canada-wide by people with lived experience, hoping to advocate as an entity for anyone suffering across the country. Less than two months later in Manitoba, their work was recognized in the legislative building, beginning a new chapter in lipedema’s history.

“I rise in the House today to honour a Wolseley constituent, Emma Cloney,” said Lisa Naylor, MLA for Wolseley. “She has been instrumental in bringing together leaders from almost every province and territory to collaborate on resources and advocate to remove barriers to care.”

Minister Naylor honoured Cloney and other lipedema advocates, who were all present in the visitor’s gallery.

“To be recognized without asking to be recognized allows me and our group to feel truly seen,” Cloney said.

“That is literally what we’re trying to do, is make it easier and make a path forward for people living with this disease.”

For Angel Anderson, who paid $90,000 for four surgeries to treat her lipedema in Germany, the recognition was an emotional moment.

“I actually got choked up in there because just getting that recognition, knowing that this government is interested in learning more about lipedema,” said Anderson, the president of Lipedema Canada.

While there, the group connected with Manitoba Minister of Health Uzoma Asagwara – another long-awaited goal.

“It was so good to meet the minister of health and be able to actually lay eyes on them and ask for the meeting that we have been so desperately seeking,” Cloney said.