New Member - Intro

[Guest guest]

I am employed by my Mother's mastectomy business. We have two shops,

in Alabama and Georgia. We are always looking for ways to receive

news and help others with breast cancer. We have been in business

for 10 years, and before that my Mom was employed in the Mastectomy

wholesale business for 13 years and did fitter certifications in

several states and through the Univ. of Kentucky.

If there is ever a way I can answer any questions regarding breast

care, what happens after mastectomies, fittings, etc., I would love

to do so. We are a participating provider and accept assignment on

most insurance policies including Medicare. Which is a rare thing,

to not have to pay that copayment. So we are there for different

reasons than just to make a buck; we want to reach out and help

others in the services we offer. We accept gently used items (most

that are donated are brand new) from patients that for one reason or

another their size or needs have changed. Then we do fittings for

ladies in our community that don't have insurance benefits and can't

afford fittings, using these donated items.

Anyone out there who is in need of help, that walks in our door, we

will help them. Most have insurance, and that is of course how we

keep going and stay in business. But some don't, and can't afford

300 bucks for a form much less the bras, etc., that go along with

it. When we receive donations, we tell those ladies they have no

idea how much those items mean to our patients without insurance

benefits, just no idea. If they could just see that women that come

in and are professionally fit with those items, and then see the

gratitude in her...oh wow sometimes I just wish they could, it is so

moving. And we meet so many women that have had mastectomies for

years and worn bird seed bags and their bras are just falling apart,

that we fit and they just break down in tears sometimes!! Through

word of mouth they hear that we will measure them and do a

professional fitting on them. That is when we feel the most blessed,

to have helped that lady who needed help the most here in our

community. Those are the best days for us. Which doesn't make sense

to most business owners I bet, but like I said we are there for more

reasons that the money side of it. And so many times we see or hear

of businesses, that just shouldn't be in this business. It takes a

special kind of outlook and a lot of heart, and my Mom has got the

biggest heart in the world. We fit women who drive hours to see us,

and even have patients in other areas of the U.S., who have maybe

heard of us through relatives here or otherwise.

I am thrilled to have found this group and hope to get to know you

all better. The women that we have fit over the years have been such

a blessing to us. What strong women!!, are the ones who walk in our

door!! It is amazing, after they are fit, to see the looks on their

faces with their heads held high and a sense of dignity that comes

with completing this step of recovery which in so many ways makes a

woman feel complete again, whole. It is sometimes a scary step, but

every woman that comes in is put right at ease when she is fit. One

lady came in depressed, and we talked with her husband while she was

in her fitting about how down she had been (she was young, in her

40's). After her fitting she bounced out of that fitting room with a

new " do " (wig I mean) and was a size C instead of the F she was

before her bilateral surgery. She told her husband she wanted to go

out to eat at a local seafood restaurant and his eyes lit up seeing

her so thrilled!! She just looked absolutely beautiful, she had her

figure back, and a gorgeous blonde wig that was exactly like her hair

before.

That is just the best feeling for us. It's like, sometimes, they

seem to say to themselves when they leave, this is something I can

get through now, and get on with living. This will be okay. There

are so many stories I could tell, but I'm rambling I know. I just am

always touched by our mastectomy friends in such a profound way.

After having gone through all the surgery, chemo... all the scary

parts. Then they come away from their fittings with a new sense of

self, of hope.

I just love my job, and love the ladies I meet and become friends

with. You are a wonderful group of women, and I admire the strength

that you have and draw from one another in your survival, and your

positive outlook. You are truly a blessing to others, and to us

too.

in Alabama