Mother of invention

Survivor creates product to ease surgery recovery

When Kim Haley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, she never would have imagined it would lead her through a unique process of healing.

Despite having the support of loved ones like her daughter, who she stayed with in Plantation during her treatments, Haley’s outlook wasn’t always positive.

“All you think of is death,” Haley said of her mindset at the time. “You’re going to die.”

She originally had stage two breast cancer but was later downgraded and didn’t need to have a mastectomy. Haley instead had a lumpectomy and found herself in a painful situation after undergoing surgery.

“I woke up from surgery and I was in a garment that actually had cut my breasts,” she said. “This is degrading, this is uncomfortable.”

She recalled her surgeon not understanding why she was so upset and took on his challenge of designing something that worked as her next mission in life.

Through her own battle with breast cancer and learning about the experiences of other survivors, Haley created the Medebra, a reimbursable garment to ease post breast cancer surgery discomfort.

Haley said she wanted to help women and men feel more comfortable in an already uncomfortable and traumatizing situation.

The mastectomy kit works to target issues, such as straps digging into sensitive areas like the shoulders and neck or under the arms where lymph nodes have been removed. It comes with a set of soft, fiber-filled adjustable prosthetic breasts. It also has attachments for drain holders that can hold the maximum and be easily removed, as well as transformed into another set of prosthetic breasts.

The garment has been so wellreceived that it is even being used for other patients, such as those undergoing dialysis. The business itself has grown since and is now shipping from three different locations, including Plantation, Fort Lauderdale and North Carolina. They’re also on the verge of reaching a larger venue with a new partnership she cannot disclose at the moment.

For more information on the Medebra, visit Medebra.com.