The Problem
The problem we want to fix is the lack of comfort, dignity, and personal spirit that pediatric cancer patients experience while undergoing treatment. Standard hospital gowns are often generic, uncomfortable, and poorly designed, making it hard for children and teens to feel like themselves during a challenging time. More critically, these gowns do not provide easy, comfortable access for medical ports or necessary treatments. This lack of customization adds unnecessary physical and emotional stress, making the hospital environment feel even more isolating. We want to solve this by restoring a sense of individuality and ease for these brave patients.
Our Plan
Action Plan: Gs Giving Gowns Phase 1: Preparation and Sourcing I will research and select soft, child friendly fabrics and patterns that specifically include easy access points like plastic snaps for chemo ports, PICC lines, and feeding tubes. We will host community outreach events to secure donations for high quality materials, focusing on sourcing sustainable textiles to align with our environmental goals. Phase 2: Volunteer Mobilization and Production I will recruit and train a team of student and community volunteers through intergenerational workshops. We will host weekly Sewing Circles to produce the gowns and shirts. A key part of this phase is our Workshop in a Box initiative, where we provide instructions and fabric to remote groups, like our partner high school club in Texas, to scale our production beyond our local area. Phase 3: Dignity and Customization We will collaborate with hospital child life specialists to understand specific sizing needs and preferred themes. By offering customized patterns, we ensure the garments are personal and uplifting, restoring a sense of individuality to patients. We also integrate our Full Circle Program here, preparing upcycled Strength Gifts like teddy bear outfits from returned textiles. Phase 4: Delivery and Impact We will establish formal partnerships with pediatric units for scheduled deliveries of the completed garments. We will measure success by tracking the number of patients served and gathering feedback on the comfort and utility of the designs. Additionally, we will distribute our Green and Clean guides with every delivery to promote watershed protection and eco friendly garment care. The Global Education Initiative Fighting Cancer Starts with Us: Learn, Support, Take Action To bridge the gap between medical crisis and classroom understanding, I collaborated on a comprehensive cancer education video. I produced this project alongside a childhood cancer survivor for whom I had personally sewn a gown during her Leukemia treatments. Together, we wrote the script and handled the filming to bring this story of resilience to life. A District Approved Curriculum Recognizing the impact of this video on public health and emotional wellness, the Superintendent has approved the film to be integrated into the health class curriculum for the Howell School District and Freehold Township School District. What the Video Teaches: The Patient Experience: Understanding the daily reality of pediatric treatment. The Science of Support: How specialized garments like port access shirts make a physical difference in care. Empathy in Action: How students can support peers facing chronic illness without making them feel isolated. Advocacy: Empowering young people to use their voices to improve community health outcomes.
