Some paths are chosen, while others have a way of choosing you. Patrice Ngang knew she wanted to work with adults but had no specialty in mind when it came time to do fieldwork rotations at UT Medical Branch.
Professor and fieldwork coordinator Dr. Loree Pryor saw something special in her. With only one spot to fill at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Pryor encouraged Patrice to go for it.
“I accepted, but definitely had imposter syndrome knocking at my door. How do you prepare for the MD Anderson? I had no idea, but I went into the experience being myself and willing to learn as much as possible,” says Patrice.
During her rotation, Patrice witnessed true resilience as she helped patients regain independence for their lives after cancer. Suddenly, she had the clearest picture of where she was meant to be. Becoming a certified lymphedema therapist was the perfect fit, igniting a passion for the lymphatic system and ultimately inspiring her to create a holistic, warm environment for patients undergoing treatment and recovery.
“I wanted to be a soft landing space as they navigated this life-altering experience or are now dealing with the residual effects of fighting for their lives,” says Patrice. “This became my mission. And with God, my husband, and family support, Vibrant Living Lymphatics & Cancer Rehab came to fruition.”
A visit to Vibrant Living is designed to be restorative from the moment you walk in. Dim lighting, the calming scent of fresh laundry and essential oils, and a cozy corner with a pillow reminding you to “breathe” set the tone. Patrice listens attentively to your concerns and guides you through gentle diaphragmatic breathing before diving into the session.
She aims for every client to feel three things: release, peace, and relief.
“As an OT, I am trained to treat the whole person, not just the problem,” says Patrice. “After getting to know my client better through the evaluation process, then I tailor their session to their body’s habits and needs. I use a blend of holistic modalities and medical interventions to get the best results for my clients. No session looks exactly the same because each person is different, and I pride myself on this.”
Patrice recalls that one of her clients, a breast cancer survivor, came to her in a panic due to uncontrolled swelling in her hand. It threatened the client’s independence in daily tasks like driving, eating, and getting dressed. But after just one session, her hand regained normal function, allowing her to resume life with ease.
Many clients come to Patrice feeling depleted after enduring intensive medical treatments and long-term struggles. However, over the course of therapy, something shifts. Her favorite part of her work—and the inspiration behind the name Vibrant Living—is the transformation in her clients as they reclaim the vitality and confidence they thought they had lost.
“There is a subtle glow that starts to glimmer from the inside and slowly makes its way out. They start wearing those jeans that they thought they would never be able to wear again, start going out with their loved ones more, get that haircut they have been putting off, or just walk a little taller with their head raised higher,” says Patrice. “It’s truly the most fulfilling thing to witness and I am so grateful to get to have a front-row seat.”
Start your Vibrant Living journey with a comprehensive evaluation when you book an appointment at: vibrantlivinglymphatics.com
“They begin to feel powerful in their bodies again. They look vibrant.”