Brava

October 2012

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workWith Me Kathy Nelson Offering breast cancer patients a needed boutique Just steps from the insulated and some- times quiet halls of the UW Breast Center, a multidisciplinary center for treatment and care, the CareWear retail store offers a space fi lled with hope and encouragement. Th e brainchild of registered nurse Kathy Nelson, the welcoming boutique was born out of her passion for guiding patients through some of the intimate struggles that come with life after a mastectomy, lumpec- tomy or breast reconstructive surgery. "As an RN I cared for many women as they went through their breast cancer jour- neys," she says. "Many were confronted with changes in their appearances … and shared heartbreaking stories of trying to fi nd products for their new lives." While working toward a master's degree, Nelson was assigned to create a healthcare business plan—and there was no question that her plan would be for a boutique for breast cancer patients. What started as a class assignment soon Support for You Find CareWear at UW Hospital and Clinics. For more information call (608) 262-2609 or visit UWHealth.org and search CareWear. became a pitch to the Friends of UW Hos- pital and Clinics, a nonprofi t group work- ing to fund programs that support patients and families, and a grant to make her plan a reality. Leaping the hurdles required cer patients fi nd products—including specialty bras, camisoles, swimsuits, headscarves and more—that help during treatment and beyond. "To see the difference from a woman coming to CareWear for the fi rst time to when she leaves is remarkable," she says. "I had a woman say to me once that she never thought she'd feel normal again. But here, she found her new normal." Today, Nelson herself is adjusting to a the CareWear door a year-and- a-half after being awarded her grant. Since then, the CareWear team has continued to help can- to incorporate a small program into a big system, Nelson saw her fi rst customer walk through new normal: Retirement! But seated inside the boutique she helped build, Nelson can see the impact. It's her legacy, and one she hopes will keep giving long into the future. October 2012 bravamagazine.com 31 Photo by Amber Arnold

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