About Recovery
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The Problem: 

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in High School, and to treat the cancer, she needed surgery. The surgery went perfectly, the recovery however, did not. The hospital gave her nothing for her recovery, except a standard post-op bra. The only difference between this bra and a standard sports bra, were the two holes that surgical drain tubes could fit through. It did nothing to relieve her pain or swelling, nor did it accommodate her post-op lifestyle. The most surprising about all of this his, was the absence of an accessible post-op bra anywhere on the market! There are comfier versions of the hospital's bra sold online, but none that accommodates ALL the needs for a women post mastectomy/breast surgery. 

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The Solution: 

I talked to my mom and fellow cancer patients in our community and listened to their difficulties with their post-op experiences. I then began to design a bra that featured what I understood to address the largest areas for growth in mastectomy bras. I made sure that it;

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 1. Is easy to put on/take off

2. Has a space for specially designed icepacks

3. Has the holes for surgical drains

4. Is made out of comfortable material

5. Is supportive

6. Is washable

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The Result:

I came up with a design that I really believe in. I am in the prototyping stage, and thus still learning about the aspects that can take my idea to the next level. When I find the perfect prototype, my goal is to continue to learn about the economic side of Recovery  in the hopes that it can be accessible to women who need it.  

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What I Learned:

One thing that this project emphasized was the importance of need-finding. Sitting back, observing, and listening to someone else's experiences will teach you more about a problem than anything else. 

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