Grace Dedinsky-Rutherford, BSc, RMT, CDT (Dr. Vodder)
Registered Massage Therapist, British Columbia

I have been a Registered Massage Therapist in British Columbia since 1992. After completing my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of British Columbia, my intention was to pursue a career in rehabilitation medicine. However, life intervened in a way that profoundly reshaped both my personal and professional path.

Shortly after graduating from UBC, my father was diagnosed with a Grade IV glioblastoma brain tumour. Faced with the reality of his prognosis and wanting to remain close to home to support him during his illness, I enrolled in and completed the two-year Massage Therapy program in British Columbia. What began as a practical decision soon became deeply meaningful.

During the final months of my father’s life, as his body systems began to shut down, he developed significant edema. With only the foundational manual lymph drainage (MLD) skills I had learned in school, I did what I could to offer comfort and relief. While I did not yet fully understand the lymphatic system or the scope of what MLD could offer, I witnessed firsthand how gentle, skilled touch could ease discomfort, reduce tension, and provide a sense of calm during the most vulnerable phase of life. That experience stayed with me long after my father passed away following a 22-month journey with cancer.

Years later, while teaching at a massage therapy college, the topic of manual lymph drainage was raised during instruction. In that moment, my clinical work and my personal history converged. I recognized that my experience “walking with cancer” alongside my father—and the limited yet meaningful relief MLD had provided him—was calling me to deepen my knowledge. I enrolled in the Dr. Vodder School and became a Certified Dr. Vodder Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist. I have never looked back.

Now, after more than 26 years as a certified Dr. Vodder therapist, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds—indeed thousands—of individuals living with lymphatic and vascular conditions. These include primary and secondary lymphedema, lipedema, venous insufficiencies, post-surgical swelling following hip and knee replacements, and complex oncologic presentations. Each patient brings a unique story, yet they are united by the quiet perseverance required to navigate the world with chronic swelling, altered body image, recurrent infections, and ongoing self-management demands.

In 2009, after years of treating patients and advocating within the medical community in North Vancouver, I collaborated with my patients to host a Lymphedema Awareness Day. This event marked a significant milestone, as it coincided with the launch of the British Columbia Lymphedema Association (BCLA). The day provided a rare and powerful opportunity for individuals living with lymphedema to gather, share experiences, and recognize that they were not alone in managing a swollen arm, leg, face, or trunk. The collective sense of validation and community was profound.

Reflecting on decades of clinical practice, it is impossible to select a single defining patient story. Instead, what stands out is the cumulative impact of walking alongside individuals who manage their conditions daily through manual lymph drainage, compression therapy, bandaging, exercise, meticulous skin care, and constant vigilance against cellulitis. Their resilience is humbling, and their trust has been one of the greatest gifts of my professional life.

What began as a desire to help my father became not just a career, but a vocation. Over the past six years, that vocation has evolved further as I assumed leadership within the Dr. Vodder School International educational program. Through this role, I have had the opportunity to support the education of therapists and, by extension, the care of patients across Canada, the United States, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Each day, I am reminded that lymphatic care is both a science and an art—one rooted in anatomy, physiology, and evidence-based practice, yet equally grounded in compassion, patience, and human connection. My cup is truly full, and I continue to find deep joy and purpose in the work I am privileged to do.